What does the Productivity Commission (PC) offer graduates?

Message from the Chair

Thanks for considering the Productivity Commission to kickstart your career.

As Australia’s leading policy research and advisory body, the PC tackles critical issues, including trade and industry assistance, climate change and energy, and improving outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The PC is a fun and intellectually curious environment where you can learn from everyone, including your fellow graduates and our fantastic team of Commissioners.

So if this sounds like it’s for you, we take a cohort of graduates each year from different academic backgrounds, prioritising intellect, curiosity, and a passion for public policy and making a difference.

Continue reading to find out more and to apply.

Danielle Wood
Chair, Productivity Commission

The PC offers

The opportunity to do high-quality, rigorous, independent work across a wide range of topic areas
The chance to learn on the job from highly experienced analysts and Commissioners
Interaction with industry, stakeholder groups, all levels of government and leading academics
A competitive remuneration package, excellent promotion prospects and flexible working conditions
An open, friendly and inclusive team‑based environment
Opportunities to develop your skills through further study and training
Assistance to new employees who move from interstate or overseas.

Be yourself at the PC

We welcome and celebrate diversity and value the unique backgrounds, perspectives and experience that each person brings to our workplace.

The PC’s commitment to employing, supporting and developing people from all walks of life is set out in our Inclusion and diversity strategy 2024-2028. Visit the Inclusion and diversity page for more details.

Ongoing career development

We understand how important skill development is in enhancing your analytical capacity and building the foundation for a successful career. Accordingly, you can expect to receive excellent and varied on-the-job training, as well as more formal opportunities to enhance your professional skills, including access to studies assistance, specialised training, seminars and workshops on a variety of topics.

We also support staff who want to continue studying while working with us.

Many staff have used this opportunity to undertake postgraduate studies, following completion of our graduate program.

Salaries and superannuation

The PC offers a generous remuneration package to our graduates. The remuneration package for graduates commencing in 2027 will total $91,310 (with a salary component of $79,125 plus 15.4% superannuation).

Ongoing support and on-the-job training will be provided, as well as more formal opportunities to enhance your professional skills. There are excellent opportunities for graduates to advance within the PC. In previous years, most graduates have progressed to the APS 5 classification upon completing the graduate program.