Chapter 2: Statistical snapshot

Abbreviations

A list of the abbreviations used in this report is available in the Glossary

Mobility within the APS

Mobility between agencies has varied over the past ten years, with a period of decline followed by recent growth (see Figure 2.9). The transfer rate has been higher than the promotion rate for most years, and the overall variation in mobility has been due more to fluctuations in transfers than in promotions.⁶ During 2005–06, the promotion rate between agencies was 0.9% and the transfer rate was 1.8%, compared with 0.7% and 1.3% respectively in the previous year. Overall, promotions⁷ rose from 13,070 to 14,604—a rise of 11.7%. Promotions between agencies rose at a higher rate than promotions within agencies, rising from 6.4% of all promotions in 2004–05 to 7.9% in 2005–06.

Figure 2.9: Ongoing employees—promotion and transfer rates between agencies, 1996–97 to 2005–06

Source: APSED

Over the past decade, mobility between agencies has been higher for women than for men. During 2005–06, the overall mobility rate (including both promotions and transfers) was 3.0% for women, and 2.4% for men.

Mobility rates are highest for SES employees, followed by EL employees. During 2005–06, mobility increased for all classification groups except for APS 1–2s—the increase was greatest for SES employees.

The MAC report, Managing and Sustaining the APS Workforce,⁸ noted concerns about a declining interagency mobility rate. The recent rise in mobility, particularly at the EL and SES levels, is pleasing and may well be a response to mobility being highlighted; however, the growth will need to be sustained for some years before it could be said that the decline has reversed.

Transfer and promotion rates are calculated as the number of movements during a financial year, divided by the average of the number of employees at the beginning and end of the period. The terminology of ‘transfer’ and ‘promotion’ have been used in this chapter because they are commonly understood by most APS employees. The terminology adopted under the Act is ‘movement at level’ for transfers between agencies. Promotion is defined as ‘the assignment to the employee of duties at a higher classification than the employee’s current classification (whether or not the employee moves to another agency)’. Movements due to machinery of government changes are not included in this analysis.
Advancements within a broadband are included with promotions for this analysis.
Management Advisory Committee 2005, Managing and Sustaining the APS Workforce, Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra.