Ruqayyah Snyder
The Australian Public Service (APS) is the federal civil service of the Commonwealth of Australia, providing public administration, public policy, and public services to the Government of Australia. As of June 2024, the APS had 185,343 employees working across 234 job roles, making it the biggest employer in the country. The APS workforce is spread across various fields, including service delivery, research, regulation, project management, and policy development. The largest four agencies in the APS as of December 2021 were Services Australia, the Australian Taxation Office, the Department of Defence, and the Department of Home Affairs, accounting for 53.6% of the total workforce. While the APS does not include the civil services of state and territory governments, it is worth noting that the public sector as a whole, including state officers, employs a significant number of people across diverse industries.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | As of 30 June 2024, the Australian Public Service (APS) had 185,343 employees. |
| Federal Government Agencies with the Most Employees | Services Australia (31,797 employees), Australian Taxation Office (21,019 employees), Department of Defence (19,059 employees), Department of Home Affairs (15,140 employees), National Disability Insurance Agency (6,818 employees), Department of Health and Aged Care (6,566 employees) |
| APS as % of Australian Workforce | 1.36% as of 2024 |
| APS Employees by State/Territory | 36.9% in the ACT, 17.3% in NSW, 16.6% in Victoria, 4.6% in Queensland, 3.9% in South Australia, 3.8% in Western Australia, 3.2% in Tasmania, 2.7% in the Northern Territory |
| APS Employees in Regional Areas | 13.6% of APS employees were located in regional areas outside capital cities as of December 2021 |
| APS Employees by Job Role | 234 job roles including service delivery, research, regulation, project management, and policy development |
| Total Australian Public Sector Employment | The total number of people employed in the Australian public sector was 2,041,200 as of June 2020 |
| State with the Largest Number of Public Sector Employees | New South Wales (595,900) |
| State with the Smallest Number of Public Sector Employees | Northern Territory (34,400) |
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What You'll Learn
Australian Public Service (APS)
The Australian Public Service (APS) is the federal civil service of the Commonwealth of Australia. It is responsible for public administration, public policy, and public services of the departments and executive and statutory agencies of the Government of Australia. The APS is one of the largest employers in Australia, with 170,000 employees as of December 2023, 60.4% of whom were female. As of June 2024, the number of employees had risen to 185,343, working across 234 job roles in fields such as service delivery, research, regulation, project management, and policy development.
APS employees are obliged to serve the government of the day with integrity and provide "frank and fearless advice" on public policy matters, from national security to fiscal and social policy. The APS plays a significant role in Australian life by providing "cradle to grave" services in collaboration with the State and Territory governments.
The APS is governed by the Public Service Act 1999, which establishes it as an "apolitical public service that is efficient and effective in serving the Government, the Parliament, and the Australian public". The Act outlines the values that the APS should embody, including impartiality, commitment to service, accountability, respect, and ethical leadership.
The Australian Public Service Commission (APSC) plays a crucial role in promoting the values of the APS, evaluating performance and compliance, and facilitating the development of people and institutional capabilities. The APSC also collects workforce information to provide a comprehensive picture of the APS workforce and assists agencies in managing their workforce effectively.
The APS has evolved over time, with a changing ratio of employees to the population it serves. As of 2024, 36.9% of APS employees worked in the ACT, 17.3% in NSW, and 16.6% in Victoria, with the remaining distributed across other states and territories.
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Federal civil service
The Australian Public Service (APS) is the federal civil service of Australia. It was established in 1901 as the Commonwealth Public Service, modelled on the UK's Civil Service. The APS is governed by the Public Service Act 1999, which outlines its role as an "apolitical public service that is efficient and effective in serving the Government, the Parliament and the Australian public".
As of June 2024, the APS employed 185,343 people across 583 locations and 101 agencies. This is an increase from December 2023, when the APS comprised 170,000 people, and June 2023, when it had 155,796 employees. The APS workforce is spread across various fields, including service delivery, research, regulation, project management, and policy development.
The APS is one of the largest employers in Australia, and its employees are obliged to serve the government with integrity and provide "frank and fearless advice" on public policy matters. The conduct of APS officers is governed by a Code of Conduct and guided by the APS Values set by the Australian Public Service Commission. The Commission is responsible for promoting the values of the public service, evaluating performance and compliance, and facilitating workforce development.
The largest federal government agency within the APS as of December 2023 was Services Australia, with 31,797 employees, followed by the Australian Taxation Office with 21,019 employees, and the Department of Defence with 19,059 employees. The APS workforce is distributed across different states and territories, with 36.9% in the ACT, 17.3% in NSW, and 16.6% in Victoria as of 2023.
The APS is committed to fair and equitable employment conditions and job security. It aims to act as a model employer, improving pay and conditions for its employees through genuine bargaining. The APS also has a focus on workforce development, with initiatives like the APS Academy, which provides resources and learning opportunities to build capabilities.
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State and Territory governments
The Australian Public Service (APS) is the federal civil service of the Commonwealth of Australia and is responsible for public administration, public policy, and public services. The APS does not include the civil services of the State and Territory governments.
The State Government of New South Wales employed 486,600 people in 2020, making it the largest state employer in the public sector. Victoria and Queensland followed with 480,800 and 413,100 employees, respectively. The smallest number of public sector employees were in the Northern Territory, with 34,400 employees.
In December 2023, the four largest federal government agencies were Services Australia with 31,797 employees, the Australian Taxation Office with 21,019 employees, the Department of Defence with 19,059 employees, and the Department of Home Affairs with 15,140 employees. These four agencies accounted for 53.6% of the total APS workforce in December 2021.
The APS workforce distribution across states varies, with the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland accounting for the majority of employees. In June 2024, 36.9% of the APS worked in the ACT, 17.3% in NSW, and 16.6% in Victoria, with the rest distributed across other states and territories.
While the public sector is the largest employer in Australia, there are challenges in determining the exact number of employees due to the diverse range of occupations and sectors involved.
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Public sector employment by state
The Australian Public Service (APS) is the federal civil service responsible for public administration, public policy, and public services. The APS comprises all Australian Government departments and agencies where staff members are employed under the Public Service Act 1999. The APS does not include the broader Commonwealth public sector, civil services of State and Territory governments, or Commonwealth corporate entities.
As of June 2024, the APS had 185,343 employees working across 234 job roles in fields like service delivery, research, regulation, project management, and policy development. The APS workforce is distributed across Australia's states and territories, with the highest proportion of employees located in Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia. In 2023, there was a ratio of one APS official for every 161 Australians, and APS staff comprised 1.36% of the Australian workforce.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the total public sector cash wages and salaries in the 2023-24 financial year were $232,136.6 million. However, the Bureau notes that employment estimates relate only to the month of June in a given year and should be used with caution when calculating average earnings.
While I cannot provide a precise number for the total number of employed state officers in Australia, the information above details the number of employees in the Australian Public Service as of June 2024 and provides an overview of public sector employment in the country.
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APS employee distribution
The Australian Public Service (APS) is the federal civil service of the Commonwealth of Australia. It is responsible for public administration, public policy, and public services of the departments and executive and statutory agencies of the Government of Australia. The APS comprises all Australian Government departments and agencies where staff members are or can be employed under the Public Service Act 1999. The APS is committed to fostering an inclusive environment that embraces the unique perspectives of each employee, with a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
As of June 30, 2024, the APS had 185,343 employees working across 234 job roles in fields such as service delivery, research, regulation, project management, and policy development. The distribution of APS employees across Australia has changed over time. In 2024, 36.9% of APS employees were located in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), 17.3% in New South Wales (NSW), and 16.6% in Victoria, with the remaining distributed across other states and territories.
A decade earlier, in 2015, the proportion of APS employees in Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia was lower, while the proportion in the ACT, NSW, the Northern Territory, and Tasmania was higher. The APS employee distribution across states and territories reflects the changing dynamics of public service requirements and the population distribution across Australia.
The APS is committed to hiring talented employees from diverse backgrounds with varying skills, experiences, and viewpoints. They offer a range of career opportunities, including internships, apprenticeships, and positions for active and retired military members. The APS aims to create a sense of belonging for its employees and foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment.
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Frequently asked questions
As of 30 June 2024, there were 185,343 employees working in the APS across 234 job roles.
As of December 2023, the largest federal government agencies in Australia were Services Australia with 31,797 employees, the Australian Taxation Office with 21,019 employees, and the Department of Defence with 19,059 employees.
As of June 2020, the total number of people employed in the Australian public sector was 2,041,200. The largest number of public sector employees were based in New South Wales (595,900), followed by Victoria (480,800) and Queensland (413,100).
The APS is the federal civil service of the Commonwealth of Australia, responsible for public administration, public policy, and public services of the departments and agencies of the Government of Australia. The APS was established in 1901 and is governed by the Public Service Act 1999.
