Composition, distribution, and change in Canada's federal policy staff

Using a decade of administrative data from the Government of Canada, we provide fresh analysis of the composition and distribution of staff most formally associated with policy work, the Economics and Social Science (EC) classification. Comparative analysis across unit levels including 'ministerial departments' and central agencies, as well as non-standard organizations support but clarify the nature of the uneven distribution of policy analytical capacity across government. We demonstrate a dramatic increase in not only the overall complement of EC staff over time, particularly since 2017, but also significant growth at senior levels while junior EC staff have remained stable or declined. The findings also point to new dynamics related to the pace, orientation, and distribution of policy analytical capacity as governments gain, lose, and exercise that capacity often in the face of tough choices about how, where, and when to deploy policy resources. A partir d'une decennie de donnees administratives du gouvernement du Canada, nous formulons une nouvelle analyse de la composition et de la repartition du personnel le plus formellement associe au travail d'elaboration des politiques, la classification Economique et services de sciences sociales (EC). L'analyse comparative entre les differents niveaux d'unites, y compris les << ministeres >> et les organismes centraux, ainsi que les organismes non conventionnels, soutient mais clarifie la nature de la repartition inegale de la capacite d'analyse des politiques dans l'ensemble du gouvernement. Nous prouvons une augmentation spectaculaire non seulement de l'effectif global du personnel d'EC au fil du temps, en particulier depuis 2017, mais egalement une forte croissance au niveau des hauts dirigeants, tandis que le personnel subalterne d'EC est reste stable ou a diminue. Les resultats suggerent aussi de nouvelles dynamiques liees au rythme, a l'orientation et a la distribution de la capacite de formulation et d'analyse des politiques alors que les gouvernements gagnent, perdent et exercent cette capacite, souvent compte tenu des choix difficiles sur comment, ou et quand deployer les ressources politiques.
INTRODUCTION Governments around the world are struggling with a variety of policy issues. Some are emergent like Covid-19 while others like economic productivity, social equality, and healthcare are longstanding. Part [...]