The Australian Public Service Commission’s (APSC) latest State of the Service Report highlights the sustained workforce pressures the Public Sector is experiencing due to changing employee expectations and a tight labour market.
Now in its 25th year, Australian Public Service (APS) Commissioner, Peter Woolcott said this year’s State of the Service Report provided data and stories to paint an accurate portrait of how the APS was meeting its responsibilities and tackling public service reform to ensure it was fit for the challenges of the future.
“The APS touches upon every aspect of the lives of Australians,” Mr Woolcott said.
“This is a great responsibility and one we continue to carry out with integrity and professionalism,” he said.
“The Australian Government has announced its reform agenda for the APS.”
Mr Woolcott said the reform agenda focused on acting with integrity and fairness, putting people and businesses at the centre of policy and services, being a model employer and ensuring the APS had the capability to do its job well.
He said the APS was changing in step with the Australian community, with the Report showing progress towards greater parity between men and women at senior levels in the APS, with 52 per cent of Senior Executive Service (SES) roles held by women now.
“In 2022 almost a quarter (22.7 per cent) of APS employees were recorded as being born outside of Australia, with 23.2 per cent speaking a first language other than English,” the Commissioner said.
“The average age of APS employees has increased from 40.2 years in 2003 to 43.4 years in 2022, with the APS workforce now comprising five generations.”
He said the Report also highlighted that the APS was experiencing sustained workforce pressures due to a tight labour market and changing employee expectations.
“We are focusing our efforts on enhancing our Employee Value Proposition by exploring options around location and flexibility,” Mr Woolcott said.
“This includes measured steps towards more modern structures and ways of working, accelerating work on culture and capability.”
The APSC’s State of the Service Report can be accessed at this PS News link.
