By Staff Writer

Four out five Australian public servants would recommend the Australian Public Service (APS) as a good place to work, according to the recently released State of the Service Report 2006–07. 

Overall job satisfaction among APS employees is high, with more than 80 per cent of employees, on average, satisfied with the things that matter to them in the workplace.

“These are really positive results, especially in a tight labour market where we are competing with the private sector for quality staff," said APS commissioner Lynelle Briggs.

The report shows that, adjusted for coverage changes, the number of staff in the APS has risen by 5.9 per cent over the past year. This growth was driven by a requirement for the APS to implement a range of new initiatives under the previous government.

The report also shows that the APS is more educated and it is increasingly diverse.

“I am pleased that more younger people are joining our ranks, and that women are increasingly being appointed, on merit, to senior levels within the public service. There has also been an increase in the number of Indigenous Australians employed this year and Indigenous representation has stabilised at 2.1 per cent” Ms Briggs said. 

“This year there have been positive developments in public service leadership, including improvements in employees’ views about the capability of their leaders. There is, however, a need for greater investment in our middle managers to allow agencies to embrace new and more innovative approaches to their work."

The report outlines five critical challenges facing the APS as it moves forward:
* the need for a greater focus on agency health and culture;
* building organisational capacity to support new ways of working;
* modernising APS employment;
* interactions with Government; and
*developing and sustaining the capacity of APS leaders. I

Copies of the State of the Service Report 2006–07 are available at www.apsc.gov.au