Damon Mcknight
The Australian Public Service (APS) is the federal civil service of the Commonwealth of Australia. As of June 2024, there were 185,343 APS employees working across 234 job roles in fields such as service delivery, research, regulation, project management and policy development. The total number of public sector employees in Australia as of the same time period was 2,517,900, with total public sector cash wages and salaries in 2023-24 at $232.1 billion.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Total number of public sector employees | 2,517,900 as of June 2024 |
| Percentage change since June 2023 | 3.6% increase |
| Total public sector wages | $232 billion in FY 23-24 |
| Percentage change in total public sector wages since FY 22-23 | 8.0% increase |
| Number of employees in the Commonwealth government | 365,400 |
| Number of employees in the State government | 1.9 million |
| Number of employees in Local government | 213,500 |
| Number of APS employees | 185,343 as of June 2024 |
| Number of APS employees | 155,796 as of December 2021 |
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What You'll Learn
Public sector employment by state in Australia
Australia's public sector employment has been increasing over the years, with the total number of public sector employees as of June 2024 being 2,517,900. This has resulted in an increase in public sector wages and salaries, costing taxpayers $232.1 billion in the 2023-24 financial year.
New South Wales, the most populated state in Australia, had the largest public sector workforce in 2022, with over 600,000 employees. On the other hand, the Northern Territory had the lowest public sector employment. The Australian Public Service (APS) workforce is spread across 583 locations and 101 agencies. As of June 30, 2024, the APS had 185,343 employees working across 234 job roles, including service delivery, research, and policy development.
The distribution of APS employees across states has changed over the past decade. As of June 2024, the proportion of APS employees in Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia was higher than a decade earlier. In contrast, the proportion of APS employees in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, the Northern Territory, and Tasmania was lower.
The increasing size and cost of Australia's public service have sparked concerns among Australians, with some calling for regulatory reforms to reduce the size of the government and streamline processes to support private sector growth.
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Federal vs state government employees
Australia has three levels of government: local councils, state/territory parliaments, and the federal parliament. Each level of government has its own responsibilities, and in some cases, these responsibilities are shared. The federal parliament, located in Canberra, makes laws for the whole of Australia, while the six state and two territory parliaments make laws for their respective states or territories. Over 500 local councils make local laws (by-laws) for their region or district.
The Australian Public Service (APS) workforce is spread across 583 locations and 101 agencies. As of June 2024, the APS had 185,343 employees working across 234 job roles, including service delivery, research, regulation, project management, and policy development. The proportion of APS employees across different states has changed over the years. For instance, as of June 2024, the proportion of APS employees in Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia was higher than a decade earlier, while the proportion in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, the Northern Territory, and Tasmania was lower.
The total number of public sector employees in Australia as of June 2024 was 2,517,900, with total public sector wages and salaries costing taxpayers $232.1 billion in the 2023-24 financial year. There has been a significant increase in the size and cost of the public service at both state and federal levels, with an additional 169,500 people employed in the public sector since June 2022. This increase in public sector spending has sparked debates about the need for regulatory reforms to reduce the size of government and cut red tape to boost the private sector and address the country's economic challenges.
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The cost of public sector wages
The dramatic increase in the size and cost of the public service has sparked criticism from some quarters, with claims that there has been "no discernible improvement in service delivery to the community" to justify the additional spending. This criticism comes amidst a challenging economic context, with Australia experiencing a prolonged cost-of-living crisis and recession, and negative per capita GDP growth.
The sectors that have experienced the largest increases in the number of public sector employees are education and training, public administration and safety, and health care and social assistance. These sectors have seen significant investments and expansions, contributing to the overall increase in public sector wages.
While the public sector wages have risen, the rate of growth has been lower than that of the private sector. In the year ending in the December quarter of 2024, public sector wages grew by 2.8%, compared to 3.3% in the private sector. This trend is also reflected in the quarterly figures, with the public sector rising by 0.6% compared to 0.7% in the private sector. However, it is worth noting that the public sector wage growth was higher at 0.8% in the September quarter of 2024, indicating some fluctuations over time.
The Australian Public Service (APS) workforce is spread across 583 locations and 101 agencies, with 185,343 employees working in various fields such as service delivery, research, regulation, project management, and policy development. The size of the APS relative to the population it serves and the wider labour force has changed over time, and there are ongoing debates about the efficiency and effectiveness of the public sector.
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The Australian Public Service (APS)
The size and cost of the APS have been a subject of debate in recent times, with some arguing that the current scale of the public sector is unsustainable. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the total number of public sector employees as of June 2024 was 2,517,900, a significant increase from the previous year. This increase in personnel has also resulted in a substantial rise in public sector wages and salaries, costing taxpayers an additional $31.1 billion since June 2022.
The distribution of APS employees across Australia varies. As of June 2024, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia had a higher proportion of APS employees compared to a decade earlier. In contrast, the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, the Northern Territory, and Tasmania had a lower proportion. The APS spans a wide range of agencies, with employees working in 101 different agencies as of June 2024.
The Australian Government is committed to ensuring fair and equitable conditions for APS employees. The Commonwealth aims to set a standard for employment practices during the APS bargaining process, including genuine bargaining to improve pay and conditions for its workforce. The Public Service Amendment Act 2024 received Royal Assent in June 2024, reinforcing the APS's core values and aiming to enhance its capability and expertise.
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The growth of public sector employment
The expansion of the public sector in Australia has been attributed to various factors, including underlying wage growth, higher employment, and compositional changes such as hours worked. The state government remains the largest employer within the public sector, accounting for approximately 77% of public sector employment. This is followed by the Commonwealth government (15%) and local government (8%). However, it is important to note that Commonwealth government employment, which includes defence personnel, has also been increasing, with a 4.3% rise in employees.
The distribution of public sector employees across Australia varies, with Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia having higher proportions compared to other territories. The Australian Public Service (APS), the federal civil service responsible for public administration, policy, and services, had approximately 185,343 employees as of June 2024. The APS workforce is spread across 583 locations and 101 agencies, with a diverse range of roles in fields such as service delivery, research, regulation, project management, and policy development.
While the public sector has experienced growth, there have been concerns about the impact on the economy and the perceived lack of improvement in service delivery. Critics argue that the cost of the public sector is exorbitant, with an additional $14 billion spent on wages and salaries in the past two years. However, it is important to consider that certain industries within the public sector, such as education, training, healthcare, and social assistance, have experienced significant increases in employment to meet the demands of these vital sectors.
To address the challenges posed by the expanding public sector, there have been calls for regulatory reforms to reduce the size of government and streamline processes to foster private sector growth. The IPA, for instance, has advocated for lowering the number of public servants and cutting red tape to stimulate economic prosperity and lift Australians out of recession. Nonetheless, the growth of public sector employment in Australia remains a complex issue that requires careful consideration and balanced approaches to ensure efficient governance and effective service delivery.
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Frequently asked questions
As of June 2024, there were 2,517,900 government employees in Australia.
In the 2023-24 financial year, $232 billion was spent on public sector wages. This was an increase of 8% from the year before.
As of June 2020, there were 595,900 public sector employees in New South Wales.
