Public Sector Employment, UK: September 2014

The official measure of people employed in the UK public sector, including private sector estimates, based on the difference between total UK employment and public sector employment.

This is not the latest release. View latest release

Contact:
Email Mark Williams

Release date:
17 December 2014

Next release:
18 March 2015

Table of contents

  1. In Q3 2014
  2. In this bulletin
  3. Total UK public sector employment
  4. Public sector employment by sector classification
  5. Public sector employment by industry
  6. Public and private sector employment
  7. Employment in the Civil Service and in executive Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs)
  8. Background notes
  9. Methodology

Print this Statistical bulletin

Download as PDF

View all data used in this Statistical bulletin

1. In Q3 2014

  • Total UK public sector employment decreased by 7,000 from Q2 2014 to 5.412 million, which is its lowest level, on a headcount basis, since the start of the series in 1999

  • Total UK public sector employment decreased by 3,000 from Q2 2014 to 4.434 million on a full-time equivalent basis

  • Employment in UK local government, at 2.334 million, was 18,000 lower than at Q2 2014

  • Employment in UK central government, at 2.894 million, was 11,000 higher than at Q2 2014

  • Employment in UK public corporations, at 184,000, was at the same level as Q2 2014

  • Private sector employment increased by 121,000 compared with Q2 2014, to 25.384 million

  • Total UK public sector employment was 302,000 lower than at Q3 2013

  • Total UK private sector employment was 890,000 higher than at Q3 2013

Back to table of contents

2. In this bulletin

The bulletin focuses on headcount estimates of public sector employment. These are presented by sector classification, industry and region. Full-time equivalent estimates of public sector employment are available in the accompanying reference tables.

Civil Service employment is shown by government department and agency. Employment in Executive Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs) has been aggregated by sponsoring department. Reclassifications between the public and private sectors affect the trends and these are also addressed.

As part of this release, revisions have been made to the series back to 1991 in line with the revisions policy for Public Sector Employment (see background note 3).

The main uses of these statistics are in monitoring changes in the number of people employed in the public and private sector in the UK. They are the official measure of UK public sector employment.

Back to table of contents

3. Total UK public sector employment

Figure 1: Total UK public sector employment, Q1 1999 to Q3 2014, seasonally adjusted

Source: Quarterly Public Sector Employment Survey - Office for National Statistics

Notes:
  1. Q4 2008 - Lloyds Banking Group and Royal Bank of Scotland moved into public sector.
  2. Q1 2012 - English colleges moved into private sector.
  3. Q4 2013 - Royal Mail plc moved out of the public sector.
  4. Q1 2014 - Lloyds Banking Group reclassified to the private sector.

Download this chart Figure 1: Total UK public sector employment, Q1 1999 to Q3 2014, seasonally adjusted

Image .csv .xls

At Q3 2014, total UK public sector employment (PSE) was 5.4 million, 15.0% lower than the peak level seen in Q3 2009.This represents a fall of 7,000 (0.1%) on the previous quarter and 302,000 (5.3%) on the previous year. This annual decrease is mainly explained by the reclassification of Royal Mail plc in Q4 2013 and Lloyds Banking Group in Q1 2014, from the public sector into the private sector.

Without the effects of the major reclassifications, public sector employment fell by 49,000 (0.9%) compared with Q3 2013.

Figure 1 shows that in Q3 2014, total UK PSE is just below the level when the series started in Q1 1999. There has been a downward trend in total UK PSE since its peak in Q3 2009.

Back to table of contents

4. Public sector employment by sector classification

The public sector comprises central government, local government and public corporations as defined for the UK National Accounts.

Figure 2: UK public sector employment in local and central government, Q1 1999 to Q3 2014, seasonally adjusted

Source: Quarterly Public Sector Employment Survey - Office for National Statistics

Notes:
  1. July 2010 - Academics Act 2010 passed.
  2. Q1 2012 - English colleges moved to the private sector.

Download this chart Figure 2: UK public sector employment in local and central government, Q1 1999 to Q3 2014, seasonally adjusted

Image .csv .xls

Local government

At Q3 2014, employment in local government fell by 18,000 (0.8%) on the previous quarter and by 87,000 (3.6%) on the previous year. Figure 2 shows the decreasing trend in local government employment since Q2 2010.

Central government

At Q3 2014, employment in central government increased by 11,000 (0.4%) on the previous quarter and 44,000 (1.5%) on the previous year. This is due to academy conversions over the period.

Factors affecting employment in local and central government

There is an ongoing shift of employment from local government to central government, as a result of local authority maintained schools converting to academy status. Academies are classified to central government, whereas local authority maintained schools are classified to local government. As a result, whenever a local authority maintained school becomes an academy, its employees move from local government to central government.

In Q3 2014, employment shifted from local government to central government by 15,000 on the quarter and 53,000 on the year, due to academy conversions.

In Q2 2012, the reclassification of English further education colleges resulted in the transfer of employees from the central government to the private sector, with an approximate headcount of 176,000. At the same time the reclassification of English sixth form college corporations resulted in the transfer of employees from local government to the private sector, with an approximate headcount of 20,000.

Figure 3: UK Public Sector Employment in Civil Service and Public Corporations, Q1 1999 to Q3 2014, seasonally adjusted

Source: Quarterly Public Sector Employment Survey - Office for National Statistics

Notes:
  1. Q4 2008 - Lloyds Banking Group and RBS moved from private to public.
  2. Q4 2013 - Royal Mail plc moved from public to private.
  3. Q1 2014 - Lloyds Banking Group moved from public to private.

Download this chart Figure 3: UK Public Sector Employment in Civil Service and Public Corporations, Q1 1999 to Q3 2014, seasonally adjusted

Image .csv .xls

UK public corporations

At Q3 2014, employment in UK public corporations was unchanged on the previous quarter but fell by 259,000 (58.5%) on the previous year. The Q3 2014 level of employment (184,000) is at its lowest since the start of the series.

Civil service

At Q3 2014, Civil Service employment was 440,000. This is a fall of 2,000 (0.5%) on the previous quarter and 7,000 (1.6%) on the previous year.

Figure 3 shows the downward trend in Civil Service employment since Q2 2005, when it was at its highest level of 571,000.

Back to table of contents

5. Public sector employment by industry

Figure 4: UK Public Sector Employment by Industry, seasonally adjusted

Source: Quarterly Public Sector Employment Survey - Office for National Statistics

Notes:
  1. Q4 2008 - Lloyds Banking Group and RBS reclassified to the public sector.
  2. Q1 2012 - English colleges reclassified to the private sector.
  3. Q4 2013 - Royal Mail plc reclassified to the private sector.
  4. Q1 2014 - Lloyds Banking Group reclassified to the private sector.

Download this chart Figure 4: UK Public Sector Employment by Industry, seasonally adjusted

Image .csv .xls

NHS

For over two years, the NHS has employed the largest number of public sector workers. At Q3 2014, the NHS accounted for around 29.1% of all public sector employment. At Q3 2014, employment in the NHS increased by 1,000 (0.1%) on the previous quarter and 20,000 (1.3%) on the previous year.

Education

At Q3 2014, employment in public sector education fell by 2,000 (0.1%) on the previous quarter and 1,000 (0.1%) on the previous year.

Prior to Q2 2012, public sector education employed the largest number of public sector workers. Figure 4 shows the significant fall in public sector education in Q2 2012, as a result of the reclassification of English further education colleges and sixth form college corporations into the private sector.

Public administration

Public administration includes all administrative duties of local and central government.

Employment in public administration fell by 6,000 (0.6%) on the previous quarter and 16,000 (1.5%) on the previous year.

Figure 4 shows the general downward trend in employment in public administration since Q3 2009.

Other public sector

The category 'other public sector' covers all industries that have not been specified elsewhere, for example financial institutions.

At Q3 2014, employment in the category 'other public sector' fell by 3,000 (0.6%) on the previous quarter and by 268,000 (33.3%) on the previous year. This was the largest annual decrease seen in any industry, and is due to the reclassifications of Royal Mail plc and Lloyds Banking Group into the private sector.

Figure 5: UK Public Sector Employment by Industry, seasonally adjusted

Source: Quarterly Public Sector Employment Survey - Office for National Statistics

Download this chart Figure 5: UK Public Sector Employment by Industry, seasonally adjusted

Image .csv .xls

Other health and social work

This category covers all health and social work not covered by the NHS.

At Q3 2014, employment in 'other health and social work' fell by 5,000 (1.9%) on the previous quarter and by 22,000 (7.7%) on the previous year.

Police

At Q3 2014, employment in the Police remained the same when compared with Q2 2014. In the year to Q3 2014 employment in the Police fell by 3,000 (1.2%). Employment in the Police has seen a decreasing trend since Q4 2009. This is shown in Figure 5.

HM Forces

At Q3 2014, employment in HM Forces fell by 1,000 (0.6%) on the previous quarter and by 11,000 (6.3%) on the same quarter a year ago. Figure 5 shows the steady fall in employment in HM Forces since Q1 2010.

Construction

At Q3 2014, employment in public sector construction remained unchanged on the previous quarter and fell by 1,000 (2.5%) on the previous year.

Figure 5 shows the downward trend in employment in public sector construction, from the beginning of the series in Q1 1999, to Q1 2012. Since then the level has remained relatively stable.

Back to table of contents

6. Public and private sector employment

Private sector employment estimates are derived as the difference between total UK employment estimates sourced from the Labour Force Survey and the public sector employment estimates collected from public sector organisations.

Total employment in the public sector decreased during Q3 2014, with employment in the private sector continuing to rise. Almost 18% of the working population are employed in the public sector.

Total UK public and private sector employment

Figure 6: UK Public and Private Sector Employment, seasonally adjusted

Source: Quarterly Public Sector Employment Survey - Office for National Statistics

Download this chart Figure 6: UK Public and Private Sector Employment, seasonally adjusted

Image .csv .xls

The number of people employed in the private sector in Q3 2014 is estimated to be 25.384 million and is the highest recorded, since the start of the series. Total UK private sector employment increased by 121,000 (0.5%) compared with Q2 2014. Total UK public sector employment decreased by 7,000 (0.1%) over the same period.

The public and private sector employment series have been affected by a number of major reclassifications, where bodies employing large numbers of people have moved between public and private sectors. Figure 6 shows the series excluding the effect of major reclassifications.

With the effect of major reclassifications removed, total UK private sector employment increased by 637,000 (2.6%) and total UK public sector employment decreased by 49,000 (0.9%), compared with Q3 2013.

Public and private sector employment by region

Seasonally adjusted series are not available when public and private sector employment is split by region. Therefore any differences between quarters in the published regional tables may be due to seasonal effects. Each series begins at Q1 2008.

Public Sector Employment by Region

Figure 7: Change in Public Sector Employment, by Region, Q3 2013 - Q3 2014, not seasonally adjusted

Source: Quarterly Public Sector Employment Survey - Office for National Statistics

Download this chart Figure 7: Change in Public Sector Employment, by Region, Q3 2013 - Q3 2014, not seasonally adjusted

Image .csv .xls

All of the Q3 2014 regional public sector employment headcount estimates are lower than the corresponding Q3 2013 estimates, as shown in Figure 7.

The South West (39,000; 8.1%), Scotland (39,000; 6.7%) and London (36,000; 4.7%) showed the largest falls in public sector employment in the year to Q3 2014.

Private sector employment by region

Figure 8: Change in Private Sector Employment, by Region, Q3 2013 - Q3 2014, not seasonally adjusted

Source: Quarterly Public Sector Employment Survey - Office for National Statistics

Download this chart Figure 8: Change in Private Sector Employment, by Region, Q3 2013 - Q3 2014, not seasonally adjusted

Image .csv .xls

In the year to Q3 2014, private sector employment increased in all of the 12 regions except Wales which decreased by 13,000 (1.3%), as seen in Figure 8. The largest increase was in London (211,000; 5.4%), followed by South West (136,000; 6.5%) and North West (120,000; 4.7%).

Proportion of total employment employed by the public sector

Figure 9: Proportion of Total Employment Employed in the Public Sector, by Region, Q3 2014, not seasonally adjusted

Source: Quarterly Public Sector Employment Survey - Office for National Statistics

Download this chart Figure 9: Proportion of Total Employment Employed in the Public Sector, by Region, Q3 2014, not seasonally adjusted

Image .csv .xls

Figure 9 shows the proportion of all those in employment employed in the public sector for each UK region at Q3 2014, showing the importance of public sector employment within each region. Northern Ireland (26.5%), Wales (23.6%) and Scotland (20.9%) had the highest proportions of all in employment employed in the public sector.

At Q3 2014, the North East (20.6%) remains the English region with the highest proportion of all in employment employed in the public sector. London (15.0%) had the lowest proportion.

Back to table of contents

7. Employment in the Civil Service and in executive Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs)

Civil Service

At Q3 2014, employment in the Civil Service in Great Britain decreased by 1,740 compared with Q2 2014.

The largest falls were in HMRC (1,840) and DWP (1,240) and the largest rise was in the Home Office (700).

Executive NDPBs

These bodies usually deliver a particular public service and are overseen by a board rather than ministers. Employment in Executive NDPBs has been aggregated by sponsoring department.

Between Q2 2014 and Q3 2014, total employment in Executive NDPBs increased by 1,020. The largest increase was shown in the Department for Health (700).

Back to table of contents

.Background notes

  1. Basic quality information

    In 2005 the Office for National Statistics (ONS), in collaboration with other government departments and the devolved administrations, implemented major improvements to public sector employment (PSE) estimates. Standard definitions for public sector employment across all departmental statistics were agreed and a single definitive set of quarterly PSE estimates introduced. A new Quarterly Public Sector Employment Survey (QPSES) was established. ONS publishes official PSE estimates each quarter as National Statistics, in the form of a Statistical Bulletin, approximately 11 weeks after the period to which they refer.

    Further details can be found in the Quality and Methodology Information for Public Sector Employment (115.9 Kb Pdf) article.

  2. Relevance to users

    The PSE estimates and data produced for the quarterly publication are used across government and feed into a number of wider publications and outputs. Some government departments use the total figures to facilitate policy making, whereas others use specific components of the data collection. The main users are as follows:

    • Cabinet Office
    • HM Treasury
    • Scottish Government
    • Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG)
    • Local Government Association (LGA)

  3. Revisions

    Public sector employment statistics have previously been published for all periods from 1999 up to and including Q2 2014. In line with the published revisions policy for public sector employment statistics (26.4 Kb Pdf), the statistics have been revised, to take account of late information from respondents.

    Tables 1R to 5R illustrate the size of the revisions in each category.

  4. Concepts and definitions

    The public sector comprises central government, local government and public corporations as defined for the UK National Accounts. The Public Sector Classification Guide is published monthly by ONS, and provides information on the classification of organisations and institutions in the National Accounts.

    The public sector employment estimates relate to the number of people employed according to returns from relevant organisations, but they include a number of workers with a second job in the public sector whose main job is in the private sector or in a separate public sector organisation. The private sector estimate, which is obtained by taking the difference between the Labour Force Survey estimate of people employed in the whole economy and the public sector total, will thus tend to be correspondingly understated by a small percentage.

    Headcount estimates are based on the number of employees with an employment contract who are being paid by the organisation. Employees can be permanent, on a fixed-term contract or employed on a casual basis. Self-employed, contract workers and agency workers are excluded.

    Permanent employees, as defined in Tables 8 and 10, are employees with a contract with no agreed expiry date or a fixed term contract of more than 12 months. Temporary/casual employees are those with a fixed term contract of 12 months or less or employed on a casual basis.

    As well as the headcount estimates, estimates have also been produced for the number of employees in full-time equivalents (FTE) back to 1999. This is based on converting part-time employees’ hours into a full-time employees’ equivalent and provides a better indication of total labour input than a simple headcount.

    Central government includes all administrative departments of government and other central agencies and Non-Departmental Public Bodies. As such it is wider than the Civil Service. This sector also includes HM Forces and the National Health Service (NHS). Within education, academies and free schools are classified to central government.

    Local government covers those types of public administration that only cover a locality and any bodies controlled and mainly financed by them. The sub-sector includes all areas of administrative authorities including parish councils, though these units are not covered by the current estimates for local authorities. It includes police forces and their civilian staff. All functions of local authorities are classified to the sub-sector, although trading activities that produce market output (for example, housing and municipally owned markets) are regarded as quasi-corporations and appear under public corporations. Local education authorities are part of local government, as are voluntary aided schools, county schools and, from September 1999, foundation schools (formerly grant-maintained).

    Public corporations are companies or quasi-corporations controlled by government, for example London Underground Ltd. These companies receive more than half their income from sales of goods or services into the market place.

    The estimates of Civil Service employees count all home Civil Service employees. Civil Service employees can be classified to central government or public corporations. Examples of public corporations include the UK Intellectual Property Office and the Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency. Civil Service estimates exclude the Northern Ireland Civil Service and other Crown servants. Employees in these groups are included in estimates of central government employment.

  5. Accuracy

    Response Rates:

    PSE statistics are compiled from a range of sources. The primary source is the Quarterly Public Sector Employment Survey (QPSES). The QPSES comprises three separate data collections; the home Civil Service, Local Authorities in England and Wales, and Great Britain public corporations and Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs). Returned questionnaires go through a series of automated validation tests to check for completeness and consistency and to identify any significant movements compared with the previous period reported (and the same period the previous year). The automated checks are followed up with respondents where errors are detected or further explanation is required. The target is to clear 95% of test failures prior to processing results. ONS targets for response to each of the three surveys ahead of compiling results are 85% (number of respondents) and 90% (of total employment). In addition, each survey has a list of critical respondents (usually those with the largest employment) for which special efforts are made to achieve 100% response and clearance of test failures.

    Table 1: Response Rates for Sources of Public Sector Employment, Q3 2014

     Response (% of questionnaires returned)          Response (% of employment returned)
    Local Authorities Survey9596
    Public Bodies Survey9296
    Civil Service Survey100100
    Other Sources (see below)100100
    Source: Office for National Statistics

    Download this table Table 1: Response Rates for Sources of Public Sector Employment, Q3 2014

    .xls (27.1 kB)

    Data for non-responders are imputed based on previous returns and known annual changes in seasonality. It is extremely rare for a local authority, public body or Civil Service department to non-respond for two consecutive quarters. The data collection is statutory for local authorities and public bodies (Statistics of Trade Act 1947) and positive action is taken to address non-response issues as and when they occur.

    So that estimates of total public sector employment can be made, it is necessary for further information to be gathered from external sources.

    Table 2: External Sources of Data for Public Sector Employment Statistics

                                                          Geographic Coverage Source
    Central Government
    HM Forces UKMinistry of Defence: DASA
    National Health Service EnglandHealth and Social Care Information Centre(IC)
    WalesNHS Wales Informatics Service
    ScotlandScottish Government
    Northern IrelandDepartment of Finance and Personnel
    AcademiesEnglandSchool Workforce Census and list of all open academies (Department for Education)
    Other Central GovernmentGreat BritainQuarterly Public Sector and Employment Survey (ONS); Community Rehabilitation Companies and Police Strength
    Northern IrelandDepartment of Finance and Personnel
    Local Government
    Local AuthoritiesEngland and WalesQuarterly Public Sector and Employment Survey (ONS)
    ScotlandJoint Staffing Watch (Scottish Government)
    Northern IrelandDepartment of Finance and Personnel
    Police (including civilians)England and WalesHome Office
    ScotlandQuarterly Public Sector and Employment Survey (ONS)
    Northern IrelandDepartment of Finance and Personnel
    Public Corporations
    Great BritainQuarterly Public Sector Employment Survey (ONS)
     Northern IrelandDepartment of Finance and Personnel
    Source: Office for National Statistics

    Download this table Table 2: External Sources of Data for Public Sector Employment Statistics

    .xls (28.2 kB)

    ONS also produces regional estimates of PSE based on returns from public sector organisations (Table 6). These supersede those produced using the Labour Force Survey (LFS) which previously had been used in conjunction with national PSE estimates to produce estimates by region.

  6. Coherence

    Estimates of public sector employment for Q2 2014 to Q3 2014 are based partly on projections for some sources. As part of the development programme to improve the quality of public sector employment estimates, public sector organisations are working towards the production of timely quarterly estimates. Until this development programme is completed, there remains a requirement to include estimates for certain sources:

    1. Police (including civilians) workforce estimates for England and Wales are published every six months (for two quarters) by the Home Office.

    2. NHS workforce statistics for England are derived from a pay system which covers all but two English NHS organisations. This produces very good estimates of staff numbers. Figures for the two other organisations are estimated based on annual NHS Workforce Census figures. This new source of estimates will reduce the need to revise estimates in the future.

    All time series in the Public Sector Employment release, except for the regional series, are seasonally adjusted to aid interpretation. As seasonal adjustment does not preserve additivity within aggregation structures, relationships that hold in the unadjusted series do not necessarily hold for the seasonally adjusted series. For example, total public sector employment equals the sum total of all public sector industry estimates before seasonal adjustment, but this is not necessarily true after seasonal adjustment.

    The estimates of public sector employment in education (SIC division 85) differ from the school workforce estimates published by the Department for Education (DfE) mainly as a result of differences in coverage and data sources. DfE estimates focus on the number of FTE teachers and support staff for England only. By comparison, the ONS estimates are derived by allocating local authority employees to education using the Inter-Departmental Business Register (IDBR) and the QPSES in England and Wales. The DfE School Workforce Census school level estimates are used to estimate employment in academies in England. PSE estimates include all employees reported by local authorities as working in primary, secondary and adult education establishments including some groups who are not covered by the DfE statistics, such as adult education staff and certain categories of support staff. Employment estimates for education in Scotland and Northern Ireland are also included to give a wider UK coverage. The different coverage of the ONS and DfE education statistics serve the needs of different users. Those who require information on the workforce in England who are directly involved in pupils' teaching and learning should use DfE published statistics. Users should also refer to DfE published statistics to gauge trends in education employment. Those who seek data on UK public sector employment in education, in its widest sense, should use the ONS data in this release. For further information on the differences between DfE and ONS data on education please see pages 44 to 46 of the Public Sector Employment Trends 2005 (463 Kb Pdf) article published in October 2005.

    ONS estimates for the NHS also differ from the headline figure produced by the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC). Again, this reflects the wider UK coverage (HSCIC figures are for England only) plus the exclusion by ONS of general practitioners (GPs). ONS, in accordance with National Accounts practice, classifies GPs as part of the private sector. ONS also include ‘hospital practitioners and clinical assistants’ who work in hospitals on a salaried pay scale but generally work as GPs leading the HSCIC to exclude them from their totals to avoid double counting. When these factors are allowed for, ONS and NHS data can be shown to be identical.

    Sector classification and machinery of government changes in the period since 30 June 2013 are listed here:

    Table 3: Sector Classification and Machinery of Government Changes, 1 October 2013 - 30 September 2014

    Organisation nameDetails
    National Offender Management Service (NOMS)Around 9100 National Probation staff joined NOMS on 1 June 2014.
    Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)DWP transferred approximately 110 staff to the Treasury Solicitor during Q2 2014.
    Her Majesty's Passport Office (HMPO) HMPO transferred approximately 100 staff to the Home Office during Q2 2014.
    Health and Safety Executive (HSE)HSE transferred approximately 490 staff to the Office of Nuclear Regulation on 1 April 2014.
    Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) was established on 1 April 2014. The Ministry of Justice transferred approximately 340 staff to CICA.
    Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA)The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency and the Driving Standards Agency merged to form the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency on 1 April 2014.
    Competition and Markets Authority (CMA)Office of Fair Trading and the Competition Commission merged to form the Competition and Markets Authority on 31 March 2014
    National Fraud Office (NFA)The NFA closed on 31 March 2014.
    National Crime Agency (NCA)The National Crime Agency (NCA) became fully operational 7 October 2013. The NCA is a non-ministerial department sponsored by the Home Office.
    The Food & Environment Research Agency (FERA)The Food & Environment Research Agency (FERA) transferred 75 staff to Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) during Q4 2013.
    Source: Office for National Statistics

    Download this table Table 3: Sector Classification and Machinery of Government Changes, 1 October 2013 - 30 September 2014

    .xls (27.1 kB)

  7. Methods

    Improvements to the way employment in public sector education in England is estimated were first implemented as part of the PSE, Q3 2012 release. Revisions to the estimates caused by these improvements were at that time incorporated into the revised PSE series, in line with the revisions policy for public sector employment statistics (26.4 Kb Pdf). Further details of the change in method and the impact on estimates of PSE are available in 'Public Sector Employment Statistics - Change in Method for Estimating Employment in Education in England', published as part of the Public Sector Employment, Q3 2012 release.

  8. Reclassifications

    In recent years the public and private sector employment series have been affected by a number of major reclassifications where bodies employing large numbers of people have moved between the public and private sectors. These major reclassifications are as follows:

    • Royal Mail plc is included in the private sector from Q4 2013 but in the public sector for earlier time periods.
    • Lloyds Banking Group plc is included in the public sector from Q4 2008 to Q4 2013 but in the private sector for earlier and subsequent periods.
    • Royal Bank of Scotland plc is included in the public sector from Q4 2008 but in the private sector for earlier time periods.
    • Network Rail is included in the private sector before Q4 2002. From Q4 2002 onwards it is included in the public sector (except for the period from Q2 2003 to Q1 2004, when it is included in the private sector). More information can be found in the Classification of Network Rail under European System of Accounts 2010 published in December 2013.
    • Northern Rock is included in the public sector from Q4 2007 until Q4 2011 but in the private sector for earlier and later time periods.
    • Bradford and Bingley is included in the public sector from Q3 2008 but in the private sector for earlier time periods.

    Comparisons of public and private sector employment over time are complicated by a number of changes to the composition of these sectors over this period with several large employers moving between the public and private sectors. ONS therefore publishes estimates of public and private sector employment excluding the effects of major reclassifications alongside estimates of total public and private sector employment in tables 5, 6a and 7a of the PSE release.

    On 13 October 2010, ONS announced the reclassification of further education colleges and sixth form college corporations to the public sector. ONS, as part of the Q4 2010 publication, took on employment estimates for further education colleges back to 1993 or their inception if later.

    On 31 May 2012, ONS announced the reclassification of English further education colleges and sixth form college corporations to the private sector, as Non-Profit Institutions Serving Households (NPISH), effective from 1 April 2012. As such, employment estimates for English further education colleges and sixth form college corporations are included in ONS estimates of public sector employment from 1993 or their inception if later, up to and including Q1 2012. English further education colleges and English sixth form college corporations estimates of employment are not included in public sector employment estimates from Q2 2012 onwards.

  9. Publication policy

    The complete run of public sector employment data in the tables of this statistical bulletin is also available to view and download in other electronic formats free of charge using the ONS Time Series Data website service. Users can download the complete Public Sector Employment Time Series in a choice of zipped formats, or view and download their own selections of individual series.

    A list of those given pre-publication access to the contents of this release is published as part of this

  10. Details of the policy governing the release of new data are available by visiting www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/assessment/code-of-practice/index.html or from the Media Relations Office email: media.relations@ons.gov.uk

    The United Kingdom Statistics Authority has designated these statistics as National Statistics, in accordance with the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 and signifying compliance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.

    Designation can be broadly interpreted to mean that the statistics:

    • meet identified user needs
    • are well explained and readily accessible
    • are produced according to sound methods
    • are managed impartially and objectively in the public interest

    Once statistics have been designated as National Statistics it is a statutory requirement that the Code of Practice shall continue to be observed.

Back to table of contents

. Methodology

Back to table of contents
View all data used in this Statistical bulletin

Contact details for this Statistical bulletin

Mark Williams
pse@ons.gov.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)1633 456728