The Public Service Commission tables its 2019–20 Annual Report

News release

December 17, 2020 – Gatineau, Québec

The Public Service Commission of Canada (PSC) today released its 2019–20 annual report on hiring and non-partisanship in the public service. The report highlights data underlining the ongoing work to increase diversity and inclusion in Canada’s public service. The PSC saw a number of new initiatives introduced by departments and agencies to increase the diversity of the federal public service, but recognizes that sustained efforts will be needed to accelerate progress in this regard.

The report also highlights the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the closing months of the fiscal year, when the PSC and other departments and agencies deployed a range of new, fast and flexible measures to support critical staffing in response to the pandemic. The crisis has underscored the importance of modernizing hiring in the public service to help remove employment barriers and improve our ability to source top talent across Canada.

Quotes

“Despite the current situation, the PSC continues to help ensure that the Canadian public service reflects the diversity of the Canadian population we serve. To this end, we will strengthen our efforts to modernize hiring processes by taking advantage of technological advances.”

– President Patrick Borbey and Commissioners Fiona Spencer and Daniel Tucker

Quick facts

  • In 2019–20, recruitment in the public service increased by 3.5%, with 61 794 new hires
  • The public service workforce (indeterminate, term, casual and student) increased by 5.4% (11 832 employees) in 2019–20
  • The proportion of jobs open to all Canadians accounts for 45% of all job postings, a peak since 2011 

  • Persons with disabilities and Indigenous people continue to apply for jobs at rates below their workforce availability 

  • Despite an increase in overall hiring in the public service, only 561 persons with a priority entitlement were hired, 22% fewer than the previous year 

  • In 2019–20, the median length of external advertised staffing processes increased by 17 days to almost 7 months
  • Over 15 000 students were hired through the various programs, an increase over previous years 

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Contacts

Media Relations
Public Service Commission
Email: cfp.media.psc@canada.ca

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