10 things we learned about civil servants in 2025

Civil servants are one of the most important — and most understudied — groups in the world. You make up the largest workforce on the planet, united by a shared mission: serving the public through better services, smarter policies and stronger institutions.

At Apolitical, we spend a lot of time listening to you. We engage daily through our Communities, host events, create courses, and run weekly polls. Over time, that adds up to a rich — and sometimes weird and wonderful!— collection of insights into what really matters to civil servants.

Below are a few things we learned in 2025. Some are light-hearted. Others are more serious. All of them say something meaningful about the people in government.

We’d love to hear from you, too: what did you learn about civil servants in 2025? Tell us in a comment below. ⬇️

And finally, a look ahead. In early 2026, we’ll be publishing a full report on what’s top of mind for civil servants for the year ahead. Stay tuned — there’s more to come!

1. Leadership matters more than anything else

Career progression increasingly hinges on leadership skills. The ability to motivate, support, and guide others now defines seniority more than formal authority or technical expertise.

2. Strategic thinking is no longer optional

Civil servants are expected to think beyond immediate delivery. Foresight, systems awareness and political literacy are core capabilities required to anticipate long-term consequences

Recommendation: Join the Futures Thinking Community to explore this topic with your peers.

3. Communication is a career accelerator

Clear, confident communication underpins trust, influence and delivery. Writing well, listening deeply and explaining complexity simply are essential to impact.

4. Digital and AI confidence is becoming basic literacy

Digital, data and AI confidence is fast-becoming a baseline expectation across roles.

Recommendation: Discover the courses, events, communities, and articles that make up the Government AI Campus, and start learning today, or take the AI Readiness Check.

5. Change is constant — and leading it is a skill

Public servants operate in near-permanent reform mode. Successfully managing change remains one of the hardest — and most underdeveloped — skills in government.

6. Resilience is found everywhere – but is often unseen

Despite budget constraints, workforce reductions and global instability, civil servants continue to deliver. Pride in public service remains strong, even under sustained pressure.

7. Government work is more complex than ever before

Many public service challenges are non-routine and resist automation. Judgment, negotiation and systems thinking are indispensable human skills.

8. Career paths are rich but hard to navigate

Civil service careers offer purpose and variety, but progression can feel opaque. Feedback, mentoring and learning on the job are critical enablers of growth.

Recommendation: Start 2026 off with an upcoming event on preparing for a promotion in 2026.

9. Collaboration remains a work in progress

Cross-government collaboration is widely valued but structurally difficult. Silos persist, even as problems become more interconnected.

10. Adaptability is the defining trait

From AI adoption to geopolitical shocks, uncertainty is the norm. To effectively navigate change, civil servants must combine learning agility, confidence and calm decision-making.

❓ Do you agree? We’d love to hear your perspective. Share what stood out to you — and what you learned — below.

(Image credit: Unsplash)