The 2025 APS Employee Census, conducted from 5 May to 6 June, captured the views of over 151,000 employees across 107 agencies. Among them, 6,244 respondents identified as working in Human Resources (HR), offering a valuable lens into the HR workforce’s experience.
Rather than analysing individual questions separately, indices are a way to see the bigger picture by grouping responses into meaningful themes.
This year, the Census explored 6 key indices:
- Employee Engagement
- Leadership (Immediate Supervisor)
- Leadership (SES Manager)
- Communication
- Enabling Innovation
- Wellbeing Policies and Support.
Initial Census analysis shows that HR professionals report experiences largely consistent with the broader APS workforce, with some notable unique strengths. HR respondents rated their immediate supervisors more favourably, suggesting strong local leadership. They also scored higher on innovation enablement and wellbeing support, reflecting a culture that encourages new ideas and prioritises health and sustainable work practices.
HR has maintained or exceeded APS benchmarks across most indices over time, indicating a stable and improving employee experience.
Trends from 2019 to 2025 show steady growth in engagement and immediate leadership, a rebound in innovation, and ongoing improvement in wellbeing. Over 90% of HR respondents reported high motivation and a proactive approach to improving work practices. Confidence in accessing flexible work arrangements and satisfaction with non-monetary employment conditions also increased, underscoring HR’s commitment to supportive and adaptable workplace policies.
This analysis highlights a strong and evolving HR workforce. Consistent gains in engagement, leadership and wellbeing suggest that our HR professionals are fostering environments that support collaboration, adaptability and continuous improvement. These trends reinforce HR’s role as a driver of positive workplace culture and a key contributor to organisational performance across the APS.
Further analysis is underway to identify initiatives and focus areas for the HR Professional stream, ensuring continued growth and alignment with APS-wide priorities.