Released to ACT Labor member for Murrumbidgee Chris Steel under freedom of information rules, the figures show public service jobs in Woden were steady at about 6100 under the former Labor federal government.

With public service employees from at least 12 departments and agencies including Human Services, Industry, Education, Social Services and Prime Minister and Cabinet, the total headcount fell to 4770 in the year after the Abbott government.

Growing to 6099 in June 2015, jobs in the area then fell to 5555 by June 2016 and 5394 a year later.

Health was among the biggest movers in the period, dropping its Woden workforce from 3600 in 2011 to 2578 in 2017.

The department remains the biggest tenant in Woden, while the Australian Public Service Commission relocated about 200 jobs this year.

The change came as the Coalition pursued efforts to cut more than 15,000 public service jobs nation wide, while doubling its spend on contracts with the big four consultancy firms to nearly $1 billion since 2013.

The ACT government announced in November 2015 it would relocate 1100 territory public service jobs to Woden as part of efforts to boost the area's economy and to streamline government operations and improve health services.

Mr Steel said the job moves were having "a devastating effect on public service employment in Woden."

"The ACT government is working hard to revitalise Woden, but that task is made all the harder by a federal government intent on doing the opposite.

"More mixed use development, light rail stage two, and people living and working in the town centre are going to be important factors in Woden's regeneration."

Mr Steel said discussions with the community about proposed variations to the Woden Town Centre master plan were continuing. He called on ACT Senator Zed Seselja to lobby for more jobs to be sent to the area.

"We know Woden's regeneration can't rely on the federal public service, but it is still an important part of Woden's future," Mr Steel said.

Woden Valley Community Council president Fiona Carrick said the job moves were disappointing.

"Woden is centrally located and after 50 years should be a thriving social and economic hub," she said.

"We would like to see the ACT government provide social facilities, co-located in the town centre, to provide options for the young people.

"A community and arts centre, a multi-purpose sports hall and a Canberra Institute of Technology [campus]. These facilities would bring activity and confidence to the town centre and facilitate investment by the private sector."

This week Department of Health staff called police after seeing a group of young people dangling their feet from the top of two abandoned buildings.

Police visited the nine-storey Alexander and Albemarle buildings, which have sat vacant for seven years awaiting demolition but no arrests were made.

Development applications are expected to be lodged for the buildings are expected in coming months.