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Victoria’s public sector has expanded by well over 100,000 employees since the Andrews/Allan Labor Government came to office in 2014 — an increase of roughly 50% in headcount.
This makes it one of the largest public‑sector expansions in modern Australian history.
According to the Victorian Public Sector Commission’s (VPSC) annual workforce reports, there were around 260,000. As of 2025, there were around 390,000 employees, an increase of 130,000 employees or roughly 50%.
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About the author
Leith van Onselen is Chief Economist at the MB Fund and MB Super. He is also a co-founder of MacroBusiness.
Leith has previously worked at the Australian Treasury, Victorian Treasury and Goldman Sachs.