Industry and data scope This section summarises the scope of the Public Administration and Safety industry1 as well as key data sources. Public Administration and Safety industry defined Public Administration and Safety includes businesses and agencies mainly engaged in Central, State or Local Government legislative, executive and judicial activities; in providing physical, social, economic and general public safety and security services; and in enforcing regulations. Central, State or Local Government legislative, executive and judicial activities includes: the setting of policy; the oversight of government programs; collecting revenue to fund government programs; creating statute laws and by-laws; creating case law through the judicial processes of criminal and other courts; and distributing public funds. Public Administration and Safety also includes military defence, government representation and international government organisations. Activities in this area include: police services; investigation and security services; fire protection and other emergency services; correctional and detention services; regulatory services; border control; and other public order and safety services. Government ownership is not a criterion for classification to this industry. As defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC), 2006. Figure 1.1: Public Administration and Safety ANZSIC breakdown code ANZSIC industry 75 Public Administration 751 Central Government Administration 752 State Government Administration 753 Government Administration 754 Justice 755 Government Representation 76 Defence 77 Public Safety and Regulatory Services 771 Public Order and Safety Services 772 Regulatory Services Data The main source of data on vocational training activities is the training activity database referred to as SV Training System (SVTS). The report presents findings for the time period from 2008 to 2013, with an emphasis on developments and patterns in the 2013 calendar year. The 2013 data is based on data extracted from SVTS as at 11 February 2014 and subject to revision. This report includes government subsidised training enrolments and domestic fee for service activities of TAFEs. However, TAFE fee for service activities below Certificate level and those provided by private RTOs and Adult Community Education (Learn Local) providers are not included. Data on completions contain all government subsidised and fee for service enrolments at any course level by all providers. Note that enrolment numbers have been rounded to the nearest ten. C
Public Administration and Safety workforce and skills This section focuses on the Public Administration and Safety industry’s workforce. It covers employment levels and trends, as well as workforce characteristics such as age and skill level. Key messages The Victorian Public Administration and Safety industry employs approximately 133,000 people, five per cent of the Victorian workforce. Employment growth has been stronger than the average for all Victorian industries over the five years to 2012-13, a trend that is not expected to continue for the five years to 2017-18 Average annual demand for new jobs due to growth and replacement over the period is expected to be approximately 6,700 jobs. The workforce is expected to retain the current mix between high- and low-skill roles The workforce is relatively representative in terms of gender profile (there is a slightly higher proportion of males than females, as with the State average). However, the age profile of the industry is slightly older than the Victorian average, with employees aged 24 and under particularly under-represented in the Public Administration and Safety industry workforce. The training level of the workforce is relatively high, with a smaller proportion of unqualified workers and a larger proportion of workers with higher degrees than the Victorian average. Employment Approximately 133,000 people are employed in Victoria’s Public Administration and Safety industry. The industry has seen employment grow by 19 per cent over the five years to 2012-13, equating to approximately 21,000 employees over the period. The outlook over the next five years to 2017-18 is for employment to continue to grow, but at a far slower rate: approximately 3 per cent over the period (equating to approximately 2,000 jobs). In comparison, employment in all Victorian industries grew by approximately 30 per cent in the five to 2012-13. Statewide employment is expected to grow at eight per cent in the five years to 2017-18, faster than the expected growth in Public Administration and Safety employment. Figure 3.1: Public Administration and Safety employment, Victoria, 2012-13 and 2017-18 16,0000 14,0000 12,0000 10,0000 80,000 60,000 40,000 20,000 0 Public Administration Defence Public Order, Safety and Regulatory Services Source: Monash Centre of Policy Studies Employment Forecasts, June 2013
Table 3.1: Estimated annual employment growth and replacement demand figures for occupations in the Public Administration and Safety sector across Victoria Occupation name Employment total 2012-13 Average annual employment needs Overall employment growth to Police 640 690 Security Officers and Guards 9,440 610 540 Aged and Disabled Carers 6,280 350 1,030 Inspectors and Regulatory Officers 5,320 290 290 Contract, Program and Project Administrators 5,110 310 1,000 General Clerks 4,870 220 350 Fire and Emergency Workers 3,480 450 780 Inquiry Clerks 3,160 160 270 Other Miscellaneous Labourers 3,130 160 340 Intelligence and Policy Analysts 2,580 230 540 Welfare Support Workers 2,490 140 140 Prison Officers 2,290 220 100 Other Information and Organisation Professionals 2,240 140 350 Court and Legal Clerks 2,010 180 230 Accounting Clerks 1,960 80 220 Policy and Planning Managers 1,710 200 360 Civil Engineering Professionals 1,600 150 160 Judicial and Other Legal Professionals 1,560 110 120 VET occupations highlighted in green Source: Monash Centre of Policy Studies Employment Forecasts, June 2013
Student characteristics Students in the 25+ age group accounted for around half of Figure 4.3: Enrolments by highest qualification, government subsidised, 2013 the enrolments in Public Administration and Safety in 2012 and 2013. This is down from 74 per cent in 2008, although the actual number of enrolments by students within this age cohort has increased by 35 per cent over this period. Students who are unemployed made up 43 per cent of enrolments in 2013. This proportion has risen significantly since 2008, when unemployed students comprised eight per cent of enrolments, and compares with an average across all industry training of 25 per cent. Bachelor Degree 0% or Higher Degree level 1% Advanced Diploma, 2% Diploma or Associate Degree 2% Certificate Year or Certificate II Certificate I 1% 1% 20% 34% 35% 42% 50% Students from a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) background accounted for more than a third of enrolments in 2013, students reporting a disability comprise seven per cent of enrolments. Table 4.7: Learners Facing Barriers enrolments, government subsidised, 2008 to 2013 Public Administration and Safety All industries The main reason students gave for enrolling in vocational training related to Public Administration and Safety was ‘To get a job’ (64 per cent). The next two most important reasons were ‘I wanted extra skills for my job’ (nine per cent) and ‘For personal interest or self-development’ (seven per cent), as shown in Figure 4.4. Figure 4.4: Enrolments by reason for study, government subsidised, 2013 At the time of enrolment, students enrolling in Public Administration and Safety courses were less likely to have obtained a Certificate III-IV but more likely to have completed Year 12 or Certificate II than the average across all industry training. Half of Public Administration and Safety enrolments were by students who had completed Year 12 or Certificate II prior to beginning their studies in the sector in 2013. This with an average across all industry training of 39 per cent. 14% 7% 9% 64% To get a job I wanted skills for my job For personal interest or It was a requirement of my job Other