The effect of perceived co-workers age and subjective age on knowledge sharing in the public sector

In this study we focus on the public sector in the Italian context since due to the highest average age and oldest workforce composition both at the sectorial and country level the loss of critically important experience and knowledge due to retirement of older workers is even more challenging and the facilitation of knowledge sharing even more crucial. The core research question posed by this paper is: What factors influence knowledge sharing in a sector characterized by an high average age and an old workforce composition? More specifically we aimed to address the current lack of empirical data regarding the effect of subjective age – individuals’ experience of being a certain age which may be higher, lower or equal to the chronological age – and perceived co-workers age compositions on knowledge sharing.