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Thousands of US federal employees moved to new employment terms
The White House says the transfer of employees to Schedule Policy/Career, previously known as Schedule F, will improve accountability US president Donald Trump has signed an executive order converting 8,000 senior policy officials to a new employment category that will strip them of civil service protections and make it easier to remove them from their…
UK civil service trade union sets out demands for use of AI in government
A UK civil service trade union has set out seven elements for negotiation with government as part of “substantive national‑level discussions” on how artificial intelligence should be used in government. The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union highlighted that AI is being introduced into a range of civil service functions, and has written to the…
US rolling out new standards to make it easier to get government jobs without a degree
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has set out new skills and competency standards for the US federal government that aim to make it easier for those without degrees to get government jobs. The updated guidance, set out by OPM director Scott Kupor, is intended to move the US government from relying on degree classifications…
New Zealand updates code of conduct to ‘strengthen integrity’ in the public service
An updated code of conduct for the New Zealand Public Service is to come into force next month in a bid to “strengthen integrity”. The new Code of Conduct for the Public Sector builds on existing expectations about integrity and conduct and introduces new standards on merit-based appointments, workplace culture and respectful behaviour to address…
New Canadian government website tracks planned public service job cuts
The Government of Canada has launched a website to allow the public to track the reduction of the public service headcount. The workforce reduction tracker will provide updates on the progress being made by the federal government to reduce the size of the public service by 16,000 posts over three years. The website provides data on…
Details emerge of Canadian public service job cuts, as thousands receive layoff notices
The Government of Canada has begun to notify federal public servants of planned job cuts, after the Carney administration announced in its first Budget last November that it intended to eliminate 16,000 jobs by 2029. Data provided by unions shows that nearly 10,000 federal workers received notices last week that their jobs may be affected.…
UK government ‘must reconcile office working policy with plans to reduce office space’
The UK government has been urged to keep its office attendance mandate under review by parliamentarians who said there may be a conflict between the plan and policies to reduce the size of the government estate. A committee of the House of Lords examined the impact of working from home across the economy, which has…
US government shutdown ends with deal that reverses federal layoffs
The US federal government has reopened after lawmakers passed a deal to fund the government and reverse the Trump administration’s redundancies during the shutdown. The US Senate has passed a vote to fund the government, ending the shutdown which started on 1 October after funding allocations expired. The same deal was then approved by the…
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Discover independent research reports, surveys and in-depth studies from Global Government Forum and knowledge partners, exploring the most important issues facing governments and the public sector. Our research provides practical insights and evidence-based recommendations for senior civil servants, policymakers and public sector leaders. Our reports combine exclusive survey data, expert analysis and interviews with government leaders from around the world to help public sector organisations improve performance, inform policy and deliver better outcomes for citizens.
Empowering Public Servants to Make Confident, Informed Decisions with Data and AI
Governments around the world are working hard to extract – and act upon – the insights held in their vast data stores, and to embrace AI and the promise it holds for innovation and transformation. At the same time, economic pressures and constrained budgets are compelling public servants to do more with fewer resources, while governments are called to respond quickly and effectively to complex challenges.
Against this backdrop, data and AI can help those working in government both to streamline their workflows and make fast, informed decisions. This in turn drives efficiency and can unlock productivity gains – and ultimately lead to improved performance and better services for citizens.
Global Government Forum surveyed over 600 civil servants worldwide to understand how data and AI are being used in government decision-making and where there are further challenges and opportunities.
Read this report for insight into how governments are using data and AI in decision-making today and the potential for the future; the major challenges to using data and AI in decision-making and how to overcome them; and how AI agents can be used in decision-making.
The report includes examples of data and AI in decision-making from countries including the UK, Ireland, Australia, Canada, Singapore, the US, and more.
(Published September 2025)
Making Government Work: Five Pillars of a Modern, Effective Civil Service
Around the world, governments are dealing with substantial challenges – from economic stagnation to the transition to net zero, military conflicts and cyber threats. Governments are also grappling with shifting geopolitics and the rise of populism – and all of these factors are set against the emergence of new technologies, including generative AI, which have the potential to fundamentally transform every aspect of society, but which also pose huge ethical, security and regulatory questions for the public sector.
The Making Government Work: Five pillars of a modern, effective civil service report was undertaken to help identify the key characteristics needed in a modern public service, with priorities ranging across leadership, digital service delivery, workforce development, cross-departmental integration, and citizen trust.
This report has been covered by publications around the world including the Financial Times, BBC Radio 4’s PM programme, Ottawa Citizen, Fed Manager, the Mandarin and the i newspaper.
(Published August 2024)
The Future of the Finance Ministry
From setting tax rates and financial regulations that create the ground rules for national economies, to allocating – and tracking – spending for public services, finance ministries occupy an essential role at the centre of government. Geopolitical crises have reinforced the importance of finance ministries, as they tackle both immediate shocks and long-term trends such as ageing populations, the digital transition, and the impact of moves to net zero.
Against this backdrop, this global research explores what the future finance ministry looks like and how to prepare for it.
Based on interviews with 10 senior leaders from finance ministries – led by John McCarthy, chief economist in Ireland’s Department of Finance, working with Ian Hall, editor, Global Government Finance, and Richard Johnstone, executive editor, Global Government Forum – the study identifies four key themes: the evolving role of the finance ministry in response to uncertainty; the shift to more flexible finance systems that support outcomes; digital transformation and the growth of AI; and the battle for talent and trust.
(Published May 2026)
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