The 2022 APS Employee Census overall results
The 2022 APS Employee Census Overall Results
The 2022 APS Employee Census was administered from 9 May to 10 June 2022. Responses were received from 120,662 APS employees across 99 agencies. This represents an 83% response rate –the highest response ever received for the annual survey and up from 77% in 2021.
Performance
The majority of respondents (83%) rated their workgroup’s overall performance as excellent or very good (82% in 2021). Similarly, almost three-quarters (71%) rated their agency as excellent or very good at meeting its goals and objectives (71% in 2021).
Similar to 2021, 80% of respondents thought their workgroup had the appropriate skills, capabilities and knowledge to perform well (81% in 2021). The vast majority (89%) said the people in their workgroup cooperated to get the job done (87% in 2021).
Employee Engagement
The APS Employee Census uses a model of employee engagement that measures the emotional connection and commitment employees have to working for their organisation. The Employee Engagement Index score for the APS remained stable from 2021 to 2022 at 73%.
Service to Australians
In 2022, 92% of respondents said they understood how their role contributed to achieving an outcome for the Australian public (90% in 2021). Respondents also reported they believed strongly in the purpose and objectives of the APS (85% in 2022; 82% in 2021).
Leadership
Results indicate that employees are viewing their SES leaders with greater positivity across all measures of SES performance. Three-quarters of respondents (74%) agreed their SES manager ensured their work efforts contributed toward the strategic direction of the Agency and the APS (73% in 2021; 71% in 2020; 67% in 2019). A majority (67%) thought their SES manager promoted cooperation within and between agencies (66% in 2021; 64% in 2020).
Perceptions of immediate supervisors largely remained very positive. The majority of employees (87%) felt their supervisor ensures that their workgroup delivers on its responsibilities (87% in 2021; 85% in 2020; 79% in 2019).
Wellbeing policies and support
The Wellbeing Policies and Support Index in the APS Employee Census measures both the practical and cultural elements that allow for a sustainable and healthy working environment. In 2022, the APS Wellbeing Policies and Support Index score remained stable from 2021 on 68%.
In 2022, one in three respondents (32%) reported feeling burned out by their work. Positively, this represents a continued decrease in perceptions of burnout over the past two years (34% in 2021 and 36% in 2020). Rates will continue to be monitored in future administration of the APS Employee Census.
APS Values and the Code of Conduct
The proportion of respondents experiencing bullying and harassment decreased in 2022 (9.7%, down from 11.7% in 2021). Similarly, the proportion of respondents who perceived discrimination in 2022 (10%) also decreased (11.5% in 2021).
In 2022, 3.1% of employees indicated having witnessed potential corruption, a slight decrease from 3.8% in 2021.