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Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)

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4.0
  • 1,000 - 50,000 employees

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Graduate Programs & Internships

  • Government & Public Service

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is the perfect place to launch your career. We offer a supportive environment, focusing on training and development to help our graduates develop their skills and find their feet. The ABS Graduate Development Program is an opportunity to kick-start your career and build the foundations for the future. 

You can work in a range of challenging and rewarding roles that will drive real change. Although our team is passionate about data and telling Australia’s story through numbers, we also have roles available outside of data for those with a passion for ICT, finance, human resources or customer service. 

Our culture

Our culture fosters inclusiveness, builds respect and capitalises on diversity. We welcome individuality and people who love to think outside the box.

Here are some stats about the ABS team:

  • 20% of our workforce is below the age of 30
  • 94% access flexible working arrangements
  • 55% of our team are female, including 41% of senior leadership
  • 11% identify as having one or more ongoing disabilities
  • 11% identify as being neurodivergent
  • 10% identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and/or gender diverse, Intersex, Queer, Questioning and/or Asexual (LGBTIQA+)
  • 1% identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
  • 42% of our workforce have carer responsibilities.

Recruitment Process

Applications for the 2025 ABS Graduate Program open on 4 March 2024. Recruitment processes vary depending on the role, but a typical process looks like this:

Applications open March to April 2024

Shortlisting - your application will be assessed using a combination of your:

i. eligibility confirmation
ii. written communication skills
iii. academic transcript
iv. resume

April 2024
Online testing - this usually includes completing a work sample or cognitive test May 2024
Interviews - typically around 30 minutes, our interviews are conducted by video conference with two or three members of the selection panel June to July 2024
Reference checks - we contact your nominated referee/s via a web-based interface July to August 2024
Offers - our offers are made from August August 2024
Optional - you have the option to start working at the ABS before the Graduate Program officially begins September 2024 to January 2025
ABS Graduate Development Program starts February 2025

Remuneration & Career Growth

As an ABS Graduate, you will:

  • be placed in a permanent full-time role
  • do meaningful work from day one and be valued for your unique perspective and diverse views
  • undertake a 12-month development program that includes rotations, workshops, seminars, projects, presentations, shadowing and coaching opportunities, panel discussions, psychometric profiling, and engaging with communities of practice.

We offer:

  • an attractive starting salary from $70,166 plus 15.4% superannuation. On completion of the 12-month program, your salary will advance to $78,923 plus 15.4% superannuation
  • flexible working arrangements that help you manage your work/life balance
  • generous leave entitlements, including 20 days of annual leave and 18 days of personal leave a year
  • training and development to help you build your skills
  • opportunities for study leave and financial support so you can continue learning
  • a public holiday substitution scheme to give people of all faiths and cultures the opportunity to participate in days of cultural, ceremonial or religious significance
  • a respectful, inclusive and diverse workplace culture
  • the opportunity to work in one of our offices in all capital cities, and Geelong
  • relocation assistance if needed. We will always try to place you in your home state, but if you do need to move we'll take care of the logistics, paying for you, your dependants and pets to relocate
  • the potential to begin working at the ABS prior to the Graduate Program commencing.

We are also leading the Australian Public Service (APS) Data Professional Stream to develop a data capable APS workforce. 

Graduate Reviews

Overall Score
4.0
Overall score based on 37 reviews
They Score Best in…
9.1
Work Hours
8.5
Culture
8.5
Diversity
8.0
Management
9.1
Work Hours
8.5
Culture
8.5
Diversity
8.0
Management
What Graduates Say About Them
  • * Flexible working arrangements * Corporate culture is unparalleled * Many opportunities to work in different areas of the bureau * Depending on what section you work in, there are opportunities to work across different teams and drive projects * Agile work environment * Friendly management who genuinely support career progression and career opportunities
  • Supportive work environment, great organizational culture, opportunity to serve the public, the work is interesting, I feel my degree is being utilised in my work, flexible work arrangements (flex time, WFH ability, etc.)
  • Balance between getting to work hard and stretch yourself, and getting to pull back a bit and have a laugh with colleagues.
  • Training and graduate development is outstanding, with practical support for career development. This includes opportunities to work in other departments/sections, senior executive shadowing, and knowledge sharing. All reasonable flexible work options have been considered for individual circumstances.
  • Supportive leadership team, encourage innovation, many opportunities to collaborate, learn and improve upon. The flexibility to allow work/life balance.
  • Limited progression opportunities due to location
  • Steep learning curve, very systems based but this can be seen as an enjoyable challenge for growth opportunities.
  • There isn’t really anything that is terrible. We have activity based workspace which means we move desks everyday which can be a little inconvenient but that is about it.
  • It seems like it might be harder to move up, bulk recruitment does not happen very often and there is not a lot of staff turnover.
  • Hard to get involved in more complex work particularly in satellite offices, some processes can be very routine when working on regular quarterly publications.

Jobs & Opportunities

Locations With Jobs & Opportunities
  • Canberra, Adelaide, Brisbane, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney
Hiring candidates with qualifications in
B
Business & Management
C
Creative Arts
E
Engineering & Mathematics
H
Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences
I
IT & Computer Science
L
Law, Legal Studies & Justice
M
Medical & Health Sciences
P
Property & Built Environment
S
Sciences
T
Teaching & Education
Current Jobs & Opportunities

Graduate Job

Canberra, Adelaide, Brisbane, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth & Sydney.
Permanent, full-time ICT jobs available across Australia for recent IT graduates.
Applications Close
3 Apr 2024
Start Date
3 Feb 2025 - 28 Feb 2025
Salary
AUD 70,166 - 78,923 / Year

Plus additional 15.4% superannuation

Graduate Job

Canberra, Adelaide, Brisbane, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth & Sydney
Join the Australian Government and have the chance to work in 40+ agencies and departments.
Applications Close
3 Apr 2024
Start Date
3 Feb 2025 - 28 Feb 2025
Salary
AUD 63,000 - 81,000 / Year

Plus superannuation.


Graduate Success Stories


  • Graduate stories
It’s nice to work in a collaborative environment. Issues are discussed freely, and no one is afraid to ask for help regardless of their level of experience.

Gerard Anderson

  • Graduate stories
It’s nice to work in a collaborative environment. Issues are discussed freely, and no one is afraid to ask for help regardless of their level of experience.

Gerard Anderson

  • Graduate stories
One of the best things about my job is that the data I help collate and analyse goes on to inform policy and instigate real change for the betterment of communities.

Elliot Hanton

  • Graduate stories
One of the best things about my job is that the data I help collate and analyse goes on to inform policy and instigate real change for the betterment of communities.

Elliot Hanton

  • Graduate stories
It’s nice to work in a collaborative environment. Issues are discussed freely, and no one is afraid to ask for help regardless of their level of experience.

Gerard Anderson

  • Graduate stories
It’s nice to work in a collaborative environment. Issues are discussed freely, and no one is afraid to ask for help regardless of their level of experience.

Gerard Anderson

  • Graduate stories
One of the best things about my job is that the data I help collate and analyse goes on to inform policy and instigate real change for the betterment of communities.

Elliot Hanton

  • Graduate stories
One of the best things about my job is that the data I help collate and analyse goes on to inform policy and instigate real change for the betterment of communities.

Elliot Hanton


A Day In The Life Of


  • Day in the life

Rachel Jefferson

Morning coffees are a great chance to catch up with friends or mentors and learn about the different and exciting work going on across the agency.
  • Day in the life

Rachel Jefferson

Morning coffees are a great chance to catch up with friends or mentors and learn about the different and exciting work going on across the agency.
  • Day in the life

Frances Gamble

Frances Gamble graduated with a Master of Public Policy and Management at the University of Melbourne and is now a Census Statistical Analyst at the Australian Bureau Of Statistics (ABS).
  • Day in the life

Frances Gamble

Frances Gamble graduated with a Master of Public Policy and Management at the University of Melbourne and is now a Census Statistical Analyst at the Australian Bureau Of Statistics (ABS).
  • Day in the life

Rachel Jefferson

Morning coffees are a great chance to catch up with friends or mentors and learn about the different and exciting work going on across the agency.
  • Day in the life

Rachel Jefferson

Morning coffees are a great chance to catch up with friends or mentors and learn about the different and exciting work going on across the agency.
  • Day in the life

Frances Gamble

Frances Gamble graduated with a Master of Public Policy and Management at the University of Melbourne and is now a Census Statistical Analyst at the Australian Bureau Of Statistics (ABS).
  • Day in the life

Frances Gamble

Frances Gamble graduated with a Master of Public Policy and Management at the University of Melbourne and is now a Census Statistical Analyst at the Australian Bureau Of Statistics (ABS).

Videos


Become an ABS Data Graduate

For more information visit abs.gov.au/careers

Become an ABS Data Graduate

For more information visit abs.gov.au/careers

Advice


7 things you should avoid in a Graduate job interview

So you aced your application and possibly even a cognitive assessment or psychometric test. You’ve now been invited to attend a job interview – congratulations on getting to this stage of the process!

What are employers looking for in responses to behavioural questions? Tips from ABS

One of the mantras in the recruitment industry is “past performance is the best indicator of future success”.

7 things you should avoid in a Graduate job interview

So you aced your application and possibly even a cognitive assessment or psychometric test. You’ve now been invited to attend a job interview – congratulations on getting to this stage of the process!

What are employers looking for in responses to behavioural questions? Tips from ABS

One of the mantras in the recruitment industry is “past performance is the best indicator of future success”.