Public Service Commissioner John Lloyd has issued another blunt assessment of the work ethic of the federal public sector.

Mr Lloyd will soon unveil new rules that make it easier for bureaucracy bosses to sack underperformers, and to improve the public service's notoriously slow hiring process.

The commissioner outlined his vision for Australian Public Service reforms at the Australian Human Resources Institute national conference in Melbourne this week.

“Public servants who are not engaged by their work or cannot contribute at the required level should consider seeking other opportunities,” he said.

“This could be another APS role or something outside the APS.

“The APS has struggled to effectively manage underperformance... this is a clear and consistent message from employees themselves.”

“Commercial pressures mean a private sector manager cannot 'carry' someone who is underperforming.

“Some companies actively manage out the bottom 10 per cent of performers every year.

“Why should people and how they perform be any less important in the public sector? Public resources are as important as those allocated by shareholders.”

“Performance management should not be punitive... although the end may be a separation.”

Mr Lloyd told the audience that a faster recruitment process is badly needed, and time-wasting should be cut out.

“It takes too long to recruit someone into the APS,” he said.

“A good outcome is to welcome someone within 10 to 12 weeks of commencing the process.

“We have to ensure that fair treatment and merit selection underpin the recruitment of staff. But there are more efficient methods available.

“Applications should be succinct, interviews short and focused and referee checks limited to genuine contenders.”

He said the public service may have to get used to more temporary workers, contractors, part-timers and casuals.

“The APS, like other sectors, will have to access non-ongoing employees, contractors, labour hires, part-time and casual employees,” Mr Lloyd told the conference.

“The access should not be unduly complicated or restricted.”