The size of Australia’s federal public service has risen by almost 40,000 employees since Anthony Albanese’s Labor government came to power, according to newly published official figures.
Australian Public Service Commission data shows the workforce stood at 198,529 people on June 30, 2025, compared with 159,179 at the end of the 2021-22 financial year. That represents an increase of 39,350 employees, or nearly 25 per cent.
The figures cover staff employed under the Public Service Act and include ongoing and non-ongoing employees. Ongoing positions accounted for most of the growth, rising from 140,861 in June 2022 to 184,442 three years later.
Separate budget estimates point to further expansion. The average staffing level for Australia’s non-military public service was forecast at 213,349 in 2025-26, while the Parliamentary Budget Office has since revised its estimate for the year to 215,941 and projected a further rise to 217,256 in 2026-27.
The government has defended the increase as part of an effort to rebuild public sector capability and bring work back in-house after years of reliance on consultants, contractors and labour-hire firms.
However, the rapid expansion has become a major political issue, with opponents arguing that it has added significantly to government wage costs and contributed to pressure on the federal budget.
The public service is spread across 586 locations. Although Canberra remains its largest centre, the Australian Public Service Commission said 35.4 per cent of employees were based in the Australian Capital Territory in June 2025, down from 36.9 per cent a year earlier.
The commission cautions that its headcount figures are not directly comparable with the government’s average staffing levels. Headcount counts individual employees, while average staffing levels adjust for hours worked and cover a wider group of government entities.
