Chapter 1 – Defining Public Service
Public service is work done to meet the needs of a community or society, rather than to benefit an individual or private business. It focuses on serving the common good. Public service can be carried out by government agencies, nonprofits, or even private organizations that work for the benefit of the public.
In government, this might include city planners working to design safer streets or firefighters rescuing residents from a structure fire.
In the nonprofit sector, it could be a housing organization building affordable homes or a food bank distributing meals to families.
In the private sector, it might involve a company systemically reducing their pollution levels, or a social enterprise launching a business that reinvests some profits back into the community.
Each of these examples serves the public good by addressing shared needs.
What’s the difference between the public, nonprofit, and private sectors?
Each sector creates public value, which means producing benefits that improve life for people and communities.
If you’re thinking about a career in public service, it helps to understand what sets it apart. Public service means putting the needs of your community ahead of personal gain. It’s about doing work that improves people’s lives and strengthens the places we live.
