Strategic workforce planning
Building workforce planning capability to address capability gaps across the service remains a focus of the Australian Public Service.
The Data and Digital Government Strategy, released in December 2023, includes a commitment to develop a whole-of-APS strategic data and digital workforce plan, with a focus on future needs and capabilities. Further, the Australian Cyber Security Strategy commits to growing and professionalising the national cyber workforce.
The APS Data, Digital and Cyber Workforce Plan is being developed by the Australian Public Service Commission in partnership with the Digital Transformation Agency, Australian Bureau of Statistics and Home Affairs. It will outline a broad range of initiatives to support the vision outlined in the Data and Digital Government Strategy and Australian Cyber Security Strategy.
This plan will become the blueprint for how the APS will build the technical workforce required to deliver data and digitally enabled public services and meet future APS demands. It will provide a service-wide approach to uplifting capability so the APS has the right people, with the right skills at the right time to deliver on the government’s data, digital and cyber needs.
Demand for data, digital and cyber talent remains strong across the Australian and global labour markets. Attracting, developing and retaining data and digital skills in the APS workforce has been a longstanding challenge for the APS and the Australian economy more broadly.
Most APS agencies are experiencing critical data, digital and cyber skill shortages. At the same time, demand for data, digital and cyber roles is expected to grow rapidly over the next 5 years, as highlighted in the Australian Government’s vision for 1.2 million tech jobs by 2030.
Workforce planning for digital workers has usually been undertaken at an organisational or team level, rather than through a systematic program of work. The APS Data, Digital and Cyber Workforce Plan will see the APS better manage demand and supply levers using a coordinated approach.
The APS Centre of Excellence for Workforce Planning provides workforce planning capability uplift, guidance and analysis to human resources and workforce planning practitioners. This supports the development and implementation of evidence-based, aligned workforce plans. Tailored, hands-on advisory services are available to agencies on a cost-recovered basis for digital workforce planning.
To further support workforce planning capability across the APS, the Centre of Excellence has partnered with the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Canberra to establish a Recognition of Prior Learning pathway between the APS Academy workforce planning courses and the UNSW Graduate Certificate in Workforce Planning.
See also in this report
Fit for the future – Data and Digital Government Strategy
Appendix 6–APS Workforce Planning
Find out more
Australian Government (n.d.) Data and Digital Government Strategy, Data and Digital website, accessed 6 August 2024.
Australian Public Service Commission (2021) APS Workforce Strategy 2025, APSC website, accessed 6 August 2024.
Australian Government (n.d.) Workforce planning courses, APS Academy website, accessed 12 September 2024.
University of New South Wales (n.d.) Graduate Certificate in Workforce Planning Handbook Special Admission Requirements, UNSW website, accessed 12 September 2024.