New Zealand's public sector is struggling to engage its employees amid anxiety over looming job cuts as the Government looks to reduce costs, according to Right Management's engagement benchmarking survey.
The survey of over 2,000 New Zealanders nationwide found 31 per cent of public servants were engaged in their work, compared to 37 per cent of private sector employees.
Central government employees were the least engaged on 28 per cent.
Overall, 36 per cent of Kiwis felt engaged at work, down from 42 per cent in 2009, when the last survey was conducted.
"Changes have been going on all around us, that's universal for everyone who has been faced with this difficult economic environment," said Right Management principal consultant Kari Scrimshaw.
"The results show us how the wider public service is being impacted operating on a day-to-day basis."
"We know job security is low within the (public) sector, and we've heard how morale has suffered in specific agencies," she said.
The survey found 35 per cent of public sector employees felt connected to their organisation, down from 43 per cent in 2009.
Overall 42 per cent of Kiwis were engaged with their organisation, down from 53 per cent in 2009.
Ms Scrimshaw highlighted that the divide between "doers" and "leaders" is increasing.
Some 57 per cent of senior management employees are engaged in their work up, from 45 per cent. That's compared with 32 per cent of workers with no management responsibilities down from 40 per cent.
"Our leaders are becoming more engaged as the people who are doing the jobs are becoming less engaged - we have to look at what is happening to the base of our organisations."
NZN