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Workforce movement and stability

Intention to leave

An employee’s intention to leave, and how engaged they feel in their work and workplace are linked – and are indications of organisational performance. Questions on intention to leave are included in the Working for Queensland survey.

  • 30% intend to stay working in their position for the next one to two years.
  • 45% intend to stay working in their position for at least the next three years.
  • 16% intend to leave their position within the next 12 months.
  • 9% intend to leave their position as soon as possible.

Source: Working for Queensland 2023.

The main reasons for employees leaving their positions are:

  • senior leadership is not meeting the employee’s expectations
  • lack of career opportunities in their current agency
  • seeking skill development in another area
  • emotional exhaustion.

Source: Working for Queensland 2023.

Where employees are engaged, they intend to stay in their current role for longer:

  • 62% intend to stay working in their position for the next one to two years
  • 29% intend to stay working in their position for at least the next three years
  • 8% want to leave their position within the next 12 months
  • 1% want to leave their position as soon as possible.

Source: Working for Queensland 2023.

Where employees are disengaged, they intend to leave their current role sooner:

  • 14% intend to stay working in their position for the next one to two years
  • 14% intend to stay working in their position for at least the next three years
  • 26% want to leave their position within the next 12 months
  • 46% want to leave their position as soon as possible.

Source: Working for Queensland 2023, % of respondents.

  • Employees separating tend to stay for at least five years before leaving the public sector.
  • Of those who have separated, 65% worked in the sector for five years or more.

Source: MOHRI March 2024.

In the past 12 months prior to March 2024 employees have had an average of:

  • 2.8 days unscheduled leave per quarter
  • 1.9 days sick leave per quarter
  • 0.4 days carer leave per quarter.
  • The average length of tenure in the Queensland public service is 11.5 years.
  • 19% have been employed for over 20 years.
  • A quarter of Queensland’s public servants have been employed in the sector for between 10 and 19 years.
  • 21% have been employed for between five and nine years.
  • 35% have been employed in the Queensland public sector for less than 5 years.