Defence Annual Report 2004-05 :: Chapter Three - People

Chapter Three - People > Workforce Overview > page 1 of 11

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Workforce Overview

The workforce overview is in two parts. The first part contains information on average strength during 2004-05, while the second part includes information on the actual number of people employed by Defence as at 30 June 2005. 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 2004-05.

The Permanent Force average strength in 2004-05 was 51,813, or 482 less then the revised estimate. This was due primarily to emerging recruitment and retention challenges and a slower than anticipated substitution of Reservists undertaking full-time service roles. Table 3.1 provides details.

Table 3.1 ADF Permanent Force Average Funded Strength ⁽¹⁾
	2003-04 Actual	2004-05 Budget Estimate	2004-05 Revised Estimate	2004-05 Actual	Variation⁽²⁾
Personnel numbers - average strength						%
Navy	13,133	13,167	13,167	13,089	-78	-0.6
Army	25,446	26,035	25,735	25,356	-379	-1.5
Air Force	13,455	13,670	13,393	13,368	-25	-0.2
Total Permanent Forces	52,034	52,872	52,295	51,813	-482	-0.9

Notes

Staffing numbers for Permanent Forces are based on average funded strengths and include Reservists undertaking full-time service and military personnel working in the Defence Materiel Organisation. The average funded strength of Reservists undertaking full-time service was 649, comprising 269 Navy, 319 Army and 61 Air Force personnel.
2004-05 actual compared to the Revised Estimate.

Table 3.2 shows the number of Reservists who rendered paid service during 2004-05. Overall, 19,275 Reservists undertook paid service, 1,852 less than the revised estimate of 21,127. The main reasons for the shortfall include emerging difficulties in recruitment and retention, as well as lower than projected use of Reserve days by non-Service groups. The figures below exclude Reservists on full-time service in the Permanent Force during 2004-05.

Table 3.2 ADF Reserve Funded Strength ⁽¹⁾
	2003-04 Actual	2004-05 Budget Estimate	2004-05 Revised Estimate	2004-05 Actual	Variation⁽²⁾
Personnel numbers - paid strength						%
Navy	1,881	1,850	1,850	1,243	-607	-32.8
Army	16,445	16,700	16,700	15,845	-855	-5.1
Air Force	2,162	2,160	2,577	2,187	-390	-15.1
Total Reserve Forces	20,488	20,710	21,127	19,275	-1,852	-8.8

Notes

During the financial year, an average of 649 Reservists undertook full time service in the Permanent Force and are included in the Permanent Force staff table. Reservists working in the Defence Materiel Organisation are included.
2004-05 actual compared to the Revised Estimate.

Table 3.3 shows details of the Australian Public Service (APS) full time equivalent average strength for 2004-05. The average strength was 17,754, which was a decrease of 217 from the revised estimate of 17,971. The decrease results from ongoing measures to reduce the civilian workforce as part of the Defence Program of Administrative Savings and from the challenges experienced in recruiting and retaining skilled personnel in some critical areas, including in the information technology, finance, and project management fields.

Table 3.3 APS Average Funded Strength ⁽¹⁾
	2003-04 Actual	2004-05 Budget Estimate	2004-05 Revised Estimate	2004-05 Actual	Variation⁽²⁾
Defence Groups						%
Vice Chief of the Defence Force/Chief of Joint Operations		70	1,109 ⁽³⁾	1,045	-64	-5.8
Navy	727	740	727	722	-5	-0.7
Army	626	668	655	625	-30	-4.6
Air Force	842	889	877	858	-19	-2.2
Defence Materiel Organisation	5,942	5,160	4,470	4,364	-106	-2.4
Corporate Services and Infrastructure Group ⁽²⁾	4,441	4,398	4,417	3,901	-516	-11.7
Defence Personnel Executive	1,063	1,198	1,096	1,089	-7	-0.6
Defence Science and Technology Organisation	2,241	2,243	2,241	2,168	-73	-3.3
Other Groups	2,421	2,475	2,379	2,982	603	25.3
Total APS	18,303	17,841	17,971	17,754	-217	-1.2

Notes

Staffing numbers for APS are based on average full time equivalent.
The large variation reflects the transfer of the Information Systems Division function (504 average full-time equivalent) from Corporate Services and Infrastructure Group to Chief Information Officer Group.
Increase due to transfer of Joint Logistics Command from Defence Materiel Organisation and Commander Australian Theatre to Vice Chief of the Defence Force/Chief of Joint Operations.