PUBLIC SECTOR EMPLOYMENT IN SCOTLAND STATISTICS FOR 4TH QUARTER 2014

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 December 2014. The publication includes information on public sector employment in Scotland with distinctions made for employment in devolved bodies and reserved bodies (located in Scotland).


1. Total Employment and Public and Private Sector Employment in Scotland; Headcount (Table 1)

Figure 1 provides a summary of total employment in Scotland and the breakdown of public and private sector employment. The public sector is defined according to the UK National Accounts Classifications Guide[1].

Figure 1: Public and Private Sector Employment, Scotland, Q4 2014

Figure 1: Public and Private Sector Employment, Scotland, Q4 2014

Chart 1: Public Sector Employment in Scotland, Headcount, Q1 1999 - Q4 2014, non-seasonally adjusted

Chart 1: Public Sector Employment in Scotland, Headcount, Q1 1999 – Q4 2014, non-seasonally adjusted

Chart 1 shows that the number of people employed in the public sector in Q4 2014 was lower than that seen in 1999, when the series began. Chart 1 also shows that the estimated number of people employed in the public sector excluding the effects of major reclassifications[2]in Q4 2014 was slightly lower than the estimated number of people employed in 1999.

Chart 2 shows the annual change in employment for the public and private sectors.

Chart 2: Annual Change in Employment by Main Sector, Headcount

Chart 2: Annual Change in Employment by Main Sector, Headcount

Impact of Excluding Major Reclassifications from Public Sector

If the major reclassifications[2]were to be excluded from the public sector series, there would be estimated to be 531,000 people employed in the public sector in Q4 2014. This would account for 20.5% of the total employment in Scotland.

Public Sector employment excluding the effects of the major reclassifications, would have decreased by 1,000 (0.2%) over the year to Q4 2014 and by 2,000 (0.3%) since Q4 1999.

The major reclassifications are all included in the reserved public sector in Scotland; their impact in this sector is covered in section 4 of the publication.

Contact

Email: Claire Gordon

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