Chapter Five > Workforce Overview

Workforce Overview

The workforce overview is in two parts. The first part contains information on average strength during 2003-04, while the second part includes information on the actual number of people employed by Defence as at 30 June 2004. The average funded strength figures are used by Defence for budget and management purposes and provide a measure of Defence's performance against its budget and personnel estimates over the financial year.

Staffing by Average Strength

This section provides information on average staffing levels for the year and compares numbers of personnel with our estimates for the financial year. The following tables assess performance against budget and revised staffing level estimates for 2003-04.

The permanent force average strength was 52,034 including 793 Reservists undertaking full-time service. These Reservists were employed primarily within the other ranks. The decrease of 191 from the projected result is primarily a result of permanent members progressively substituting for Reservists undertaking full-time service at a slower than anticipated rate in the Army. This process continues to move the ADF towards the additional 3,555 average funded strength provided under the Government's commitment to an Army with six full-time battalions and an enhanced combat support group in the Air Force.

Table 5.1 ADF Permanent Force Average Funded Strength(1)
  2002-03
Actual		 2003-04
Budget
Estimate		 2003-04
Revised
Estimate		 2003-04
Projected
Result		 2003-04
Actual		 Variation(2)
Personnel numbers - average strength %
Navy 12,847 49,027 13,121 13,121 13,133 12 0.1
Army 25,587 25,941 25,731 25,623 25,446 -177 -0.7
Air Force 13,646 13,400 13,460 13,481 13,455 -26 -0.2
Total permanent forces 52,080 52,341 52,312 52,225 52,034 -191 -0.4

Notes

  1. Staffing numbers for Permanent Forces are based on average funded strengths and include Reservists undertaking full-time service. The average funded strength of Reservists undertaking full-time service was 793, comprising Navy 352, Army 328 and Air Force 113.
  2. 2003-04 actual compared to the projected result.

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The figures below show the number of Reservists who rendered paid service during the financial year. In 2003-04, 20,488 Reservists undertook paid service, 376 less than the projected result of 20,864, but 868 more than in 2002-03. This figure excludes the average number of Reserves on full-time service in the permanent force during 2003-04.

Table 5.2 ADF Reserve Funded Strength(1)
  2002-03
Actual		 2003-04
Budget
Estimate		 2003-04
Revised
Estimate		 2003-04
Projected
Result		 2003-04
Actual		 Variation(2)
Personnel numbers - paid strength %
Navy 1,404 2,087 1,850 1,850 1,881 31 1.7
Army 16,211 16,700 16,700 16,982 16,445 -537 -3.2
Air Force 2,005 1,658 2,160 2,032 2,162 130 6.4
Total Reserve forces 19,620 20,445 20,710 20,864 20,488 -376 -1.8

Notes

  1. During the financial year, an average of 793 Reservists undertook full-time service in the permanent force and are included in the permanent force staff table.
  2. 2003-04 actual compared to the projected result.

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The Australian Public Service (APS) full-time equivalent average strength for 2003-04 was 18,303, a decrease of 53 from the projected result of 18,356. The decrease is a result of the planned reduction in APS numbers over a three-year period in response to a significant APS workforce growth during 2002-03, and as a contribution towards Defence's program of administrative savings.

The overall reductions were partially offset by increases, since the Portfolio Budget Statements 2003-04, mainly in intelligence capability, project acquisition, air traffic control and the Budget Estimates Framework Review. The outcome also reflected delays in reductions of civilian personnel expected in the rationalisation of the Defence Integrated Distribution System.

Table 5.3 APS Average Funded Strength(1)
  2002-03
Actual		 2003-04
Budget
Estimate		 2003-04
Revised
Estimate		 2003-04
Projected
Result		 2003-04
Actual		 Variation(2)
Defence Groups %
Navy 741 749 750 727 727 - -
Army 674 674 681 631 626 -5 -0.8
Air Force 785 842 870 852 842 -10 -1.2
Defence Materiel Organisation 5,957 5,175 5,900 5,997 5,942 -55 -0.9
Corporate Services and Infrastructure Group 4,459 4,305 4,383 4,419 4,441 22 0.5
Defence Personnel Executive 1,215 1,104 1,115 1,064 1,063 -1 -0.1
Defence Science and Technology Organisation 2,294 2,267 2,287 2,247 2,241 -6 -0.3
Other Groups 2,260 2,261 2,403 2,419 2,421 2 0.1
Total APS 18,385 17,377 18,389 18,356 18,303 -53 -0.3

Notes

  1. Staffing numbers for APS are based on average full-time equivalent.
  2. 2003-04 actual compared to the projected result.

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