Public Sector Employment in Scotland - Statistics for 1st Quarter 2015

The statistics in this release are based on administrative records and surveys of individual public sector bodies carried out by the Scottish Government and the Office for National Statistics (ONS). This is a snapshot of employment as at March 2015. The publication includes information on public sector employment in Scotland with distinctions made for employment in devolved bodies and reserved bodies (located in Scotland).


5. Civil Service Employment in Scotland; Headcount (see Tables 6 and 7)

This section provides a summary of the civil service in Scotland.

The devolved civil service is made up of:

  • Scottish Government Core Departments
  • Scottish Government Agencies
  • Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
  • Non-Ministerial Departments

The reserved civil service is made up of:

  • UK Government Departments
  • Scotland Office

In Q1 2015, there were 42,900 people employed as civil servants in Scotland. This is made up of 17,400 (40.6%) people working in the devolved civil service and 25,500 (59.4%) working in UK government departments. The total number of civil servants has decreased by 900 (-2.0%) over the year from 43,800 in Q1 2014 to 42,900 in Q1 2015.

Devolved Civil Service

The devolved civil service has increased by 500 (+2.8%) since Q1 2014.

Chart 6 shows a breakdown of the devolved civil service in Scotland as at Q1 2015[5].

Chart 6: Breakdown of Devolved Civil Service Employment, Scotland, Headcount, Q1 2015

Chart 6: Breakdown of Devolved Civil Service Employment, Scotland, Headcount, Q1 2015

Scottish Government Core

In Q1 2015, there were 5,400 people employed in Scottish Government (SG) core directorates, representing 30.9% of the devolved civil service in Scotland. Over the year to Q1 2015, employment in SG core directorates has increased by 100 (+1.7%).

Scottish Government Agencies

There were 7,300 people employed in Scottish Government agencies in Q1 2015. Employment in SG agencies has increased by 300 (+4.0%) over the year.

Non Ministerial Departments

Non Ministerial Departments (NMD) include the National Records of Scotland, Registers of Scotland, the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, the Scottish Courts Service (SCS) and the Scottish Housing Regulator (from April 2012). In Q1 2015, there were 3,000 people employed in these NMDs, an increase of 100 (+3.3%) since Q1 2014.

Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal

In Q1 2015, there were 1,700 people employed in the Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal. Over the year from Q1 2015, employment in the Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal remained unchanged.

Reserved Civil Service

Employment in the reserved civil service has decreased by 1,300 (-5.0%), from 26,800 in Q1 2014 to 25,500 in Q1 2015.

Chart 7 identifies the breakdown of headcount employment in UK government departments as at Q1 2015.

Chart 7: Breakdown of Headcount Employment in the UK Government Departments as at Q1 2015

Chart 7: Breakdown of Headcount Employment in the UK Government Departments as at Q1 2015

Department for Work and Pensions

In Q1 2015, there were 10,100 people employed in the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Over the year from Q1 2014, employment in DWP has decreased by 600 (-5.5%).

HM Revenue and Customs

There were 8,300 people employed in HM Revenue and Customs in Q1 2015, a decrease of 600 (-7.0%) since Q1 2014.

Ministry of Defence

There were 3,900 people employed in the Ministry of Defence in Q1 2015. This has decreased by 200 (-3.8%) since Q1 2014.

Other Civil Service[6]

The number of people employed in Other Civil Service in Q1 2015 was 2,500. This remained unchanged over the year.

Department for International Development

The number of people employed in the Department for International Development in Q1 2015 was 600. This remained fairly constant over the year.

Scotland Office

In Q1 2015, there were 80 people employed in the Scotland Office. Over the year from Q1 2014, employment in the Scotland Office has increased by 10 (+7.1%).

Contact

Email: Claire Gordon

Back to top