Public Sector

The Public Sector consists of federal, state and territory governments which include agencies, statutory bodies and government owned corporations. The Public Sector is one of the largest employers in Australia and work with the community to deliver key services to keep communities safe, grow the economy, provide education, transport and health care.

What does this industry cover?

The Public Sector is diverse and covers numerous departments with the main areas being policy, finance, governance and regulation. Employees in the public sector can expect to provide policy advice and analysis, customer service and engagement, commission and contract and manage networks.

The Public Sector has been impacted by similar challenges that other industries are facing such as emerging technologies, data and analytics and artificial intelligence. Future growth areas are predicted in Public Order and Safety Services, Justice and Regulatory Services.

Job hunting preparation

The majority of public sector employees roles are within state and territory governments however there are entry level, such as apprenticeship, Indigenous career pathways, cadet, school leaver and graduate programs available in both federal and state and territory public sectors.

Top priority skills: teamwork and communication, critical thinking, research and analytic thinking and innovation.

Occupations in demand: Contract, Program and Project Administrator, General Clerks, Other Specialist Managers, Secretaries and Information Officers.

Information for further research

Industry information is published by peak level associations, government and major employers. Accessing industry association sites, including member lists, is a good way of building up an understanding of an industry. Visiting employer websites and looking for careers or employment menus helps identify how employers recruit and the skills they are recruiting.