With over 85,000 people, Defence is one of Australia's largest employers. As shown in graph 4.8, over half this workforce (58%) are full-time ADF personnel. In addition, a significant proportion (22%) are employed in the ADF Reserves (consisting of almost 80% Army personnel) and a further 19% are civilians. Table 4.9 represents the division of Defence personnel across these categories.
The table shows the distribution of ADF personnel across the three Services. Army personnel represent almost half the full-time ADF, and 80% of the Reserves, with the remaining personnel divided between the Navy and the Air Force.
4.9 AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCE STAFFING, By Service - 2001-02
|
 | ADF full-time | ADF Reserves |
|
| Navy | 12,598 | 1,544 |
| Army | 25,012 | 15,669 |
| Air Force | 13,322 | 1,655 |
| Total | 50,932 | 18,868 |
|
| Source: Department of Defence. |
Recruitment and retention
The ADF has experienced difficulty in recent years in maintaining personnel numbers. This has resulted from relatively high separation rates and an inability to achieve recruiting targets in order to compensate. A reversal of this downward trend finally occurred in 2001--02 (see graph 4.10), with recruitment figures marginally higher than separation rates over the year. This is good news for the ADF, but the trend needs to continue into the coming years to be considered a success, and there remain shortages in specialist areas across the Services that still need to be addressed.
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