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Public sector employment and earnings

Latest release

Contains estimates of public sector employees and cash wages and salaries by level of government, state and industry

Reference period
2023-24 financial year

Key statistics

There were 2,517,900 public sector employees in the month of June 2024 comprising:

  • 365,400 employees in Commonwealth government (including defence force personnel);
  • 1,939,100 in State government; and
  • 213,500 in Local government.

Total public sector cash wages and salaries in 2023-24 was $232,136.6 million.

Sector estimates

The highest quality public sector employment and jobs information is available in the Public sector employment and earnings and Labour Account Australia releases. The ABS is reviewing sector estimates in detailed Labour Force statistics, which are subject to inherent limitations and should be used with caution.

Coverage

Although earnings estimates relate to the full twelve months of the financial year, employment estimates relate to the month of June in the given year. Given these differences, the ABS does not recommend using these components together to calculate average earnings.

Public sector employees and cash wages and salaries
 Employees June 2024 ('000)Cash wages and salaries 2023-24 ($m)
Commonwealth Government365.437,318.6
State Government1,939.1178,372.4
Local Government213.516,445.5
Total Public Sector2,517.9232,136.6

Employees

Public sector employees, level of government, states and territories ('000)
 June 2023June 2024
C'wealthStateLocalTotalC'wealthStateLocalTotal
NSW83.6540.261.0684.786.9557.463.4707.6
Vic.59.9470.556.9587.362.9486.057.4606.2
Qld48.4393.347.3489.050.0408.848.1506.9
SA19.8140.411.2171.421.3143.211.6176.1
WA18.0210.624.6253.119.0219.825.5264.3
Tas.5.953.04.463.36.054.84.665.4
NT9.330.42.942.69.531.63.044.1
ACT105.433.6. .139.0109.837.5. .147.4
Australia350.31,871.9208.22,430.4365.41,939.1213.52,517.9

. . not applicable

States and territories

Public sector cash wages and salaries, level of government, states and territories ($m)
 2022-232023-24
C'wealthStateLocalTotalC'wealthStateLocalTotal
NSW8,170.648,446.74,627.161,244.48,938.052,355.75,052.866,346.4
Vic.5,808.140,702.53,806.550,317.16,362.842,988.74,028.253,379.8
Qld4,631.136,183.33,899.344,713.75,004.739,758.04,114.148,876.8
SA1,924.611,293.2874.314,092.02,151.311,952.1958.815,062.1
WA1,730.218,483.11,645.821,859.01,911.319,545.11,775.723,232.0
Tas.542.24,314.9292.55,149.5566.34,740.9323.45,630.6
NT840.73,061.4180.34,082.5901.93,290.4192.64,384.9
ACT10,288.23,241.0. .13,529.211,482.33,741.6. .15,223.9
Australia33,935.6165,726.215,325.7214,987.537,318.6178,372.416,445.5232,136.6

. . not applicable

Industry

Public sector employees and cash wages and salaries, industry
 Employees ('000)Cash wages and salaries ($m)
Jun-23Jun-242022-232023-24
Electricity, gas, water and waste services57.862.36,860.57,771.7
Construction8.38.9820.0892.0
Transport, postal and warehousing76.678.07,986.98,478.9
Information media and telecommunications16.816.81,865.81,936.5
Financial and insurance services19.921.12,327.92,593.7
Rental, hiring and real estate services7.27.6632.3664.6
Professional, scientific and technical Services36.138.73,507.23,803.1
Public administration and safety817.6849.476,888.583,444.4
Education and training737.5753.953,803.257,904.5
Health care and social assistance615.4642.457,574.461,684.5
Arts and recreation services21.422.81,409.01,568.5
Other industries a.15.715.91,311.91,394.2
All industries2,430.42,517.9214,987.5232,136.6

a. Includes Agriculture, forestry and fishing, Mining, Manufacturing, Wholesale trade, Retail trade, Accommodation and food services, Administrative and support services and Other services.

Data downloads

Public sector, employees and cash wages and salaries

Data files

Enquires

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Previous catalogue number

This release previously used catalogue number 6248.0.55.002.
 

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