Government
Workforce Overview
Federal, State and Territory, and Local Governments are responsible for providing public services and shaping Australian society.
The government landscape in Australia is made up of local governments, state and territory governments, and a federal government.
Each level of government has specific functions and is responsible for delivering different services.
Workforce Challenges
Public Skills Australia has identified that the Federal, State and Territory, and Local Government industry-sector experiences the following workforce challenges.
- Expansion of core duties
- Technological development
- Recruitment and retention
- Diversity and inclusion
- Career pathways
- Climate change
- Public trust and perception
- Competition for labour
- Demographic shifts
There are also four industry-specific challenges that are only experienced by the Government industry-sector.
- Low enrolment in the LGA Local Government Training Package
- National skills shortages in a range of occupations
- Falling enrolments in the PSP Public Sector Training Package
- Attracting and developing regional and remote workforces
The three levels of government in Australia have developed strategic plans to help address these workforce challenges.
- Attracting, building and retaining skills, expertise and talent
- Embracing data technology, and flexible and responsive workforce models
- Strengthening integrity and purposeful leadership
The Workforce Plan 2024: Federal, State/Territory and Local Government will be published on Public Skills Australia’s website. Subscribe to our mailing list or follow us on LinkedIn to receive updates on the Workforce Plans 2024 series.
Training Overview
The LGA Local Government Training Package is used by local government workers, while the PSP Public Sector Training Package is used by state and territory government workers.
As a Jobs and Skills Council, Public Skills Australia plays an important role in maintaining this training package.
Click here to learn more about the LGA Local Government Training Package and here to learn more about the PSP Public Sector Training Package.
Members of Public Skills Australia from this industry-sector
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References
LGA and PSP training package enrolment reference: National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), Total VET students and courses 2022: DataBuilder [data set], 2023, ncver.edu.au, accessed 15 January 2024.
Existing workforce challenges
Australian Local Government Association (ALGA), 2022 Local Government Workforce Skills and Capability Survey, ALGA, 2022
Australian Public Service Commission (APSC), Delivering for Tomorrow: APS Workforce Strategy 2025, APSC, 2021
National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), Overview of the National Anti-Corruption Commission, NACC, Australian Government, 2022.
New South Wales Public Service Commission (NSW PSC), Strategic Workforce Plan 2022─2025, NSW PSC, Government of New South Wales, 2022
Northern Territory Public Service (NTPS), NTPS Workforce Strategy 2021─2026: Working for Territory, NTPS, Government of Northern Territory, 2021.
Disclaimer
This data have been collected through consultation with industry-sector representatives as part of the Workforce Plan 2024: Federal, State/Territory and Local Governments. These figures represent a snapshot in time and are subject to change. Public Skills Australia Limited has made every effort to ensure that the information and data contained in this report are accurate, up to date and have been sourced appropriately. Our organisation will update these figures annually as part of its Workforce Planning function.