Sector workforce profile
Overview
As at March 2025, the Queensland public sector consisted of 270,883.71 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees. This is an increase of 4.99% or 12,871.58 FTE since March 2024.
- The whole-of-sector grew by 12,871.58 FTE – an annual increase of 4.99%
- The health sector grew by 7,182.90 FTE – an annual increase of 6.68%
- The eductation sector grew by 1,037.63 FTE – an annual increase of 1.29%
- The rest-of-sector grew by 4,651.05 FTE – an annual increase of 6.67%
Over the five years from March 2021 to March 2025 the sector increased by 35,435.99 FTE from 235,447.72 FTE to 270,883.71 FTE. This growth was largely driven by a 21.05% increase in health sector employees.
Of this growth, 36.13% was in frontline and frontline support roles and 13.86% in corporate roles. The remaining proportion, of slightly over 50%, was in key frontline roles with 21.29% of the total growth being nurses and midwives, followed by 8.69% health practitioners and 6.64% doctors.
In analysing the size and composition of the Queensland public sector, the labour force and the demographic profile of Queensland must be considered. These have changed over time and these changes will be reflected in changes in the public sector.
For example, the five-year trends included in this report capture the period immediately following the COVID-19 pandemic. The Australian labour market has changed in composition since the pandemic with growth in public sector employment exceeding that of the private sector.
The Institute of Public Affairs, in its analysis of Australian Bureau of Statistics (abs) Labour Force data, identified the following trends:
- between August 2014 and August 2022, 76.5% of new people employed were in the private sector
- post-pandemic, between August 2022 and August 2024, 82.1% of new people employed were in the public sector.
The Queensland Government Statistician’s Office reported that in 2023–24 the growth in the population of Queensland (2.3%) was only exceeded by Victoria (2.4%) and Western Australia (2.8%). Using the ABS estimates for 2024, the growth in Queensland’s population (~8.78%) between 2021 and 2024 was surpassed only by Western Australia (~12.10%) and Northern
Territory (~9.89%).
In addition to this population growth the ABS reports that:
- the population is aging
- the proportion of people born overseas living in Queensland has increased
- households are getting smaller.
As the demographic profile of the state changes, so too do the perspectives and attitudes of Queenslanders.
The profile of the Queensland public sector must evolve and the number of public servants must grow over time to reflect the changing needs and expectations of the community.
As the population of Queensland grows, more health care professionals including nurses, midwives and doctors will be needed. More educators across all ages will be needed. An aging population will require aged care, allied health and social support. The growing population will need infrastructure, community planning, transport, social support, a strong economy, safety and emergency services