Personnel Simulation Model (PERSIM)

PERSIM was developed in Statistics Canada out of concern over management succession. Since that time, the model has been used to inform a broad range of human resource policies, including: staffing targets for professional recruitment programs, the maintenance of a no-layoff policy during a period of government cutbacks, and the representation of employment equity groups.

PERSIM is a demographically driven, micro-simulation model: it simulates at the individual employee level, with the simulated events based on individuals' demographic characteristics. It is designed to estimate the probable effects of personnel policy alternatives on future staffing levels, gross flows, career paths and the demographic structure of an organization. The model is quite simple at its core, simulating just four types of events: retirements, other exits, promotions and hiring.

The following paper "Management experience and diversity in an aging organization: a microsimulation analysis" written by Ted Wannell and Martin Gravel is a case study on management succession using PERSIM.

The following presentation "Human Resources Planning and Analysis" describes Statistics Canada's strategic corporate planning objectives and the human resources planning and analysis used to support these objectives.