Workforce profile of Public Service departments released

The State Services Commissioner, Mark Prebble, today released the results of an annual survey summarising workforce statistics in Public Service departments.

Compiled by the State Services Commission, the annual Human Resource Capability (HRC) survey includes a wide range of information, including staff numbers, retention and recruitment, pay and benefits, diversity, and leave.

"As at 30 June 2007, the Public Service employed 44,335 staff (full-time equivalent of 42,047). This represented an increase of 5% on the 2006 numbers," he said.

"Increases in staff numbers at the Inland Revenue Department and the Department of Corrections had the greatest impact over that time.

"Most of the additional IRD staff were employed to support the implementation of new programmes, for example KiwiSaver. The staff increase in the Department of Corrections results from growth in the Public Prison Service and the Community Probation Service.

"The Public Prison Service has commissioned new facilities (Auckland Regional Women's Correction Facility, Otago Regional Correctional Facility and Spring Hill Correctional Facility) while growth in the Community Probation Service reflects a general increase across all locations.

"On the other hand, departments such as Land Information New Zealand, the Education Review Office, Statistics New Zealand and the National Library, have experienced decreases in staff numbers over the past year," Mark Prebble said

Mark Prebble noted that the 2007 Skill Shortage Survey, a qualitative survey also undertaken by the SSC, indicated the continuation of a tight labour market.

Among the HRC survey's other conclusions:

• Turnover rates were similar to 2006 figures, at 14% for core unplanned turnover and 20% for gross turnover (13% and 22% in 2006 respectively). Turnover rates varied considerably between department and by occupation.
• 75% of public servants are in the professional or clerical and administration occupation groups, compared with 31% in these groups for the labour market as a whole.
• The median salary as at 30 June 2007 was $48,343 ($45,900 in 2006) and the average salary was $56,619 ($53,948 in 2006).
• The proportion of Māori staff as at 30 June 2007 was 16.8% (16.7% in 2006) compared with 14.6% in the overall population (2006 Census).
• The proportion of senior managers who are Māori was 9.1% (8.2% in 2006). The proportion of women senior managers was 37.8% (37.7% in 2006).

The full report is available of the State Services Commission website:

http://www.ssc.govt.nz/hrc-survey-2007

ENDS

Contact: Jason Ryan, State Services Commission, 04 495 2850.

Jason.ryan@ssc.govt.nz

FAQs

How is the Human Resource Capability survey compiled and what does it include?

The Human Resource Capability (HRC) survey is run by the State Services Commission. It gathers anonymous employee data on staff in Public Service departments. This includes staff numbers, retention and recruitment, pay and benefits, diversity, and leave. It covers permanent and temporary employees, but not contractors or casual employees.

Who uses the information?

The report provides a range of information relevant to Human Resource management and Equal Employment Opportunities. Data from Statistics New Zealand's labour market surveys is also used to allow comparisons with the labour force as a whole.

Were there any changes in 2007?

This year saw changes in the collection of occupation data from codes in the New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (NZSCO) to codes in the Australia and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO).

A new data field on department day entitlements was introduced this year to improve reporting on annual leave entitlements.

What are the Public Service departments covered by the report?

A list of the 34 Public Service departments in the 2007 HRC follows.

(Note that the HRC survey was as at 30 June 2007 and the Food Safety Authority separated from Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry on 1 July 2007 to become a new department.)