Kāhua taipakeke Age profile

The average age of the Public Service workforce as at 30 June 2026 was 44.7 years, up slightly from 44.6 years in 2025. This matches the level recorded in 2017 and approaches the peak of 44.8 years reached in 2015–16. Before then, the workforce had been aging steadily since 2000, when the average age was 40.8 years.

The proportion of the Public Service workforce that is 50 years or older fell slightly, from 36.2% in 2025 to 36.1% in 2026. After rising from 22.0% in 2000 to a peak of 37.4% in 2016, the proportion gradually declined through to 2023. In the overall New Zealand labour force, the proportion of workers aged 50 years and over is also relatively unchanged, at 33.1% compared to 32.9% in 2024 and 2025.

The proportion of public servants over the age of 65 has increased steadily since 2000, when it was 0.3% of the workforce, to 2026 when it is 5.6%. This mirrors a trend in the wider New Zealand workforce.

Public servants under the age of 35 make up 27.0% of the workforce, having decreased each year since a high of 30.5% in 2022 and 2023. Mirroring this pattern, the middle age group of 35 to 49 has grown in proportion since 2022, from 34.1% to 36.9% (having previously fallen almost continuously since 2000 when they made up 45.2% of staff).

The previous increase in younger staff up to 2022-23 was driven by workforce growth and higher levels of recruitment. New recruits are generally younger and more ethnically diverse than the existing workforce. In 2026, new recruits accounted for 14.2% of all employees, up from 12.5% in 2025, but below the average annual recruitment rate. This is contributing to the fall in the share of public servants under the age of 35.

The following interactive visualisation allows you to look at how the Public Service age profile has changed by occupation and agency over the past decade. Asian, Pacific and MELAA employees have a younger age profile than European and Māori staff which may contribute to increased representation for these ethnicities in the Public Service in coming years.

Aged(CSV, 410 KB)

Older workers in the Public Service – Te Taunaki Public Service Census findings

In the 2025 Public Service Census, more than 14,000 people aged 50+ responded. We define this age group as older workers.  

Overall job satisfaction was higher among older workers with 68% being satisfied or very satisfied with their job, compared to 60% for younger workers (under 50). This was slightly lower for older workers than in 2021 (71%), although the decrease was greater for younger workers (from 68%).  

Those above retirement age (65+) still working in the Public Service had the highest level of comfort with being themselves at work/with their colleagues (86%). This age group also had one of the highest rates of being satisfied with their work life balance (65%). Both these figures were similar to the proportions for this group in 2021 (88% for comfort with colleagues and 63% for work life balance). 

Older workers were more likely they were to agree that the work they do gives them a sense of accomplishment and that they’re enthusiastic about their job. Those aged 65+ were the most positive on both measures, with 86% reporting a sense of accomplishment from their work and 82% saying they were enthusiastic about their job. They were also as likely as the other age groups to feel accepted as a valued member of the team, with very little change from 2021 (80% in 2025 compared to 79% in 2021).

In total, 64% of older workers felt they had access to the learning and development needed to do their job well, which was the same level as those younger than 50 and slightly more than in 2021 (62%). Those aged 50+ were less likely to agree that they are encouraged and supported to apply for developmental opportunities (eg. other roles, secondments, senior positions) – 44% compared with 56% of those under 50, a difference similar to 2021 (54% for under 50 and 45% for 50+). A high proportion of older workers feel confident in their ability to learn new digital skills but this was lower than for people under 50 – 83% compared with 92%.