Public servants leaving Queensland Government jobs in record numbers

The number of Queensland government workers jumping ship from certain departments has jumped by more than 20 per cent.

The number of workers leaving their jobs at several Queensland government departments has surged – with the rate of departures jumping by over 20 per cent in some areas of the public service.

In the past financial year, the “separation rate” of workers at the state’s Education Department increased to 6.61 per cent – up from the 5.11 per cent the department had recorded a year earlier.

In Deputy Premier Steven Miles’ department of State Development, the separation rate increased considerably over the same period, from 4.3 per cent to 7.2 per cent amid machinery of government changes.

And in the Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs, the attrition rate in 2021-22 hit a sizeable 13.57 per cent – which means more than one in ten workers left their job.

At Queensland Corrective Services, 9.9 per cent of custodial officers left their roles in 2021-22 – which was up from the 7.3 per cent recorded the year before.

Transport and Main Roads also had a significant uplift in departures, with the separation rate hitting 8 per cent in 2021-22 compared to the 5.4 per cent recorded in 2020-21.

In the past financial year, the “separation rate” of workers at the state’s Education Department increased to 6.61 per cent. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/The Australian

Other departments and agencies experienced reductions in their separation rate, such as the Department of Premier and Cabinet which reduced from 3.21 per cent in 2020-21 to 2.83 per cent in 2021-22.

The separation rate of firefighters also declined from 3.7 per cent to 3.3 per cent during the same period.

A Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs spokeswoman acknowledged that, like most industries, the department was “experiencing challenges” in recruiting and retaining suitably qualified staff.

An Education Department spokesman said: “In total, resignations and other forms of separation combined for Department of Education employees have remained steady over the last few years, with retention for teachers at around 96 per cent”.

“Employees may leave for a variety of reasons, including pursuing other opportunities within the education sector,” he said.

A Queensland Corrective Services spokeswoman also pointed out that increasing separation rates were being experienced across Australia.

“Under the Enterprise Bargaining Agreement finalised in 2022 and the outcome of the Directive 12/12 appeal, QCS Custodial Corrections Officers are among the best paid and best trained in Australia,” she said.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli said the greatest way to attract and retain public servants was to treat them with respect and make them feel valued.

He suggested the Coaldrake review had highlighted that public servants had been subjected to bullying and a lack of protection for whistleblowers.

Acting Premier Steven Miles hit back, saying Mr Crisafulli sat around the Cabinet table in the former LNP government when they sacked thousands of public servants.

“The Leader of the Opposition and the LNP didn’t respect government workers then and they don’t now,” he said.

Originally published as Public servants leaving Queensland Government jobs in record numbers