Case studies to enhance graduate employability: Government as employer

This is one in a series of case studies to enhance graduate employability. The theme of this case study is:

• Government as employer

Governments of all levels are significant providers of employment in Australia. With staff nearing 160,000, the Australian Public Service (APS) stands out as one of the nation’s largest employers (Australian Public Service Commission, 2014). Not only this, the APS is among Australia’s most significant providers of graduate employment. The number of graduates joining the APS peaked in 2011-12 at 917 (Towell, 2014). While this number has reduced to 784 in 2012-13 and 712 in 2013-14, the APS remains a mainstay in the annual recruitment of university graduates (Towell, 2014). Given this commissioned project’s focus on the employment of graduates from generalist degrees, the role of the APS in employing generalist graduates is pertinent. To this end, it is arguable that the APS is Australia’s largest employer of graduates from generalist degrees each year. Meanwhile, the 700 plus graduates employed by the APS do not stand-alone as graduates employed by government. While this case study focuses on the Australian Government as an employer, state, territory and local governments are employing graduates all around the country.