In the broader sense, public service encompasses the bodies that provide services to their citizens or members of their community (airlines, road and rail carriers and energy producers, for example). It also applies to the institutions and agencies that are charged with providing these services through government funding or regulation. This includes those with a strong public service ethos such as fire services and police departments, but it can also include utilities like electricity, gas or water that may not be considered to be a public good in the same way as health care or education.
For those who choose careers in the public sector, it is often a choice that is motivated by a desire to serve others. The work of those in the public service sphere has many benefits, from the satisfaction that comes with being part of a mission-driven organisation to the opportunities for professional growth and personal happiness that may be difficult to achieve in other workplaces.
Whether they are responding to natural disasters, setting workplace safety standards or managing food and medicine safety, the public is often very satisfied with the efforts of those in public service.
While the public sector can be challenging, it is also extremely rewarding and there are many career paths that can lead to fulfilling work. As a result, it is important for organisations that want to promote and maintain public service to foster an internal culture where employees can feel strongly connected to the overriding purpose of their roles and be clear about their responsibilities to the public interest.