New research reveals a gap between the Public Sector’s apparent commitment to workplace inclusion and the lived experiences of its people.
Data from the Workplace Inclusion Barometer collected between December 2025 and July 2026 showed Public Sector employees recorded a score of 65.8 for observed climate inclusion.
This tracks day-to-day interactions, workplace behaviours and perceptions of workplace culture.
But when Public Sector employees were asked about their own lived experience of inclusion, the score dropped more than eight points to 57.5.
This score reflects their personal experiences of inclusion, exclusion, fairness and respect.
Te Uru Tāngata Centre for Workplace Inclusion Chief Executive Maretha Smit says the research suggests that while Public Sector workplaces may appear inclusive, with leaders talking the talk and a seemingly respectful workplace culture, many of the people working within them do not feel they can thrive in that environment.
“This could be because in the past 12 months, the Public Sector has removed many of the initiatives that gave visibility and voice to the wide range of diverse groups working within its ranks.”
Within the Public Sector, those working in health reported the lowest score for lived experience of inclusion at 54.
Private sector employees reported the highest score for lived experience of inclusion at 66.9, marginally ahead of the 66.5 score for non-profit organisations.
Those working in education recorded a lived experience score of 65.2.
Scores around 65 to 70 suggest a moderately inclusive environment.
Te Uru Tāngata will now work with the team from Business and Economic Research Limited to carry out qualitative research to better understand the gaps between different workplace types, Maretha says.
“The survey data we have collected tells us what is happening but not why. Focus group research in the next month will allow us to explore these themes in more depth.”
The overall inclusion score for the period was 64.7, down from 65.6 in the period from December 2025 to March 2026.
Private sector employees recorded the highest overall score at 67.2, followed by non-profit employees at 66.9. Education sector employees recorded an overall score of 63.9.
The Public Sector overall score was 62.2 with health sector employees recording the lowest score at 58.1.
“The gap between private and public sector organisations was around five points, meeting the Barometer threshold for a meaningful difference,” Maretha says.
The Barometer also tracks scores for structural conditions, which assesses people’s perceptions of their workplace’s policies, systems and organisational architecture, and trust and belonging, which considers whether employees trust their workplace to act fairly, inclusively and with integrity.
Those scores are available in the full snapshot report.
The Workplace Inclusion Barometer scores reflect perceptions and lived experiences, not formal policy compliance.
The survey is always open so you can share your experiences of workplace inclusion or read previous snapshot reports and the research methodology on our website.