Workforce profile of Public Service departments released
26 November 2007
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," Mark Prebble 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 Mâori 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 Mâori 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.
FAQs
Q: How is the Human Resource Capability survey compiled and what does it include?
A: 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.
Q: Who uses the information?
A: 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.
Q: Were there any changes in 2007?
A: 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.
Q: What are the Public Service departments covered by the report?
A: 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.)
Public Service departments (as at 30 June 2007):
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
Archives New Zealand
Department of Building and Housing
Department of Conservation
Department of Corrections
Crown Law Office
Ministry for Culture and Heritage
New Zealand Customs Service
Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Economic Development
Ministry of Education
Education Review Office
Ministry for the Environment
Ministry of Fisheries
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Government Communications Security Bureau
Ministry of Health
Inland Revenue Department
Department of Internal Affairs
Ministry of Justice
Department of Labour
Land Information New Zealand
Ministry of Maori Development
National Library of New Zealand
Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs
Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet
Ministry of Research, Science & Technology
Serious Fraud Office
Ministry of Social Development
State Services Commission
Statistics New Zealand
Ministry of Transport
The Treasury
Ministry of Women's Affairs
ENDS