Public sector personnel

People employed in central and local government, and public corporations, including second jobs in the public sector. Includes Civil Service employment with regional and diversity analyses.

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Public Sector Employment by Sector; Central Gov; UK; HC; SA; Thousands

3,973 000's

2024 Q3

Release date:
17 December 2024
Next release:
20 March 2025
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Public sector employment, UK: September 2024

What's in the bulletin?

  • There were an estimated 6.12 million employees in the public sector in September 2024, an increase of 26,000 (0.4%) compared with June 2024, and an increase of 63,000 (1.0%) compared with September 2023.
  • Employment in central government was a record high at an estimated 3.97 million in September 2024, an increase of 28,000 (0.7%) compared with June 2024 and an increase of 113,000 (2.9%) compared with September 2023; the main contributors to this increase were the NHS, some local authority schools becoming academies, and the Civil Service.
  • The NHS employed an estimated 2.04 million people in September 2024, an increase of 12,000 (0.6%) compared with June 2024 and an increase of 57,000 (2.9%) compared with September 2023 and a record high.
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Datasets related to Public sector personnel

  • Public sector employment

    Quarterly estimates of UK and regional public sector employment, made up of central government, local government, and public corporations.

  • Civil Service statistics

    Annual data on Civil Service employment in the UK, including gender, ethnicity, disability status, earnings and location of the Civil Service workforce. This dataset has now been transferred to the Cabinet Office.

  • Civil Service statistics data summary tool

    An interactive tool allowing users to compare government departments and the Civil Service average, including the split between men and women, full-time and part-time employees, permanent and temporary appointments and regional analysis.

  • Public sector employment time series

    Seasonally adjusted and non-seasonally adjusted quarterly time series of UK public sector employment, containing the latest estimates.

  • Civil Service statistics

    Annual data on Civil Service employment in the UK, including gender, ethnicity, disability status, earnings and location of the Civil Service workforce. This dataset has now been transferred to the Cabinet Office.

  • Civil Service statistics data summary tool

    An interactive tool allowing users to compare government departments and the Civil Service average, including the split between men and women, full-time and part-time employees, permanent and temporary appointments and regional analysis.

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Publications related to Public sector personnel

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Methodology related to Public sector personnel

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