PUBLIC SECTOR EMPLOYMENT IN SCOTLAND STATISTICS FOR 4th 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 December 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).


3. Devolved Public Sector Employment in Scotland; Headcount (see Table 4)

The devolved public sector includes:

  • Devolved Civil Service (see section 5);
  • Local Government, covering Scottish Local Authorities, Police and Fire Services (up to Q1 2013), Valuation Joint Boards and Regional Transport Partnerships;
  • Police and Fire Services (Q2 2013 onwards)
  • NHS in Scotland;
  • Further Education Colleges;
  • Devolved Public Corporations;
  • Other Devolved Public Bodies (which covers Non-Departmental Bodies and other bodies).

The number of people employed in the devolved public sector has decreased by 500 (-0.1%) over the last year, from 488,300 in Q4 2014 to 487,800 in Q4 2015. Chart 4 shows the composition of the devolved public sector as at Q4 2015.

Chart 4: Breakdown of Devolved Public Sector Employment by Category, Headcount, Q4 2015

Chart 4: Breakdown of Devolved Public Sector Employment by Category, Headcount, Q4 2015

Over the year:

Employment in Scottish Local Government decreased by 1,900 (-0.8%) over the year to 244,800 in Q4 2015. This is mainly due to staff transferring to arms' length external organisations (ALEOs) which are part of the private sector. On 1st April 2015, 754 staff transferred from Scottish Borders Council to SB Cares, 255 staff transferred from East Renfrewshire Council to East Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure Limited on 2nd July 2015 and on 1st December 2015, 344 staff transferred from Angus Council to Angus Alive.

Employment in the NHS increased by 900 (+0.6%) over the year to 161,400 in Q4 2015. A detailed breakdown on this information by staffing group was published by ISD on the 1st March 2016: http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Workforce/

The number of Police and Fire Service employees decreased by 400 (-1.5%), from 28,600 in Q4 2014 to 28,200 in Q4 2015.

The devolved civil service saw a decrease of 500 (-3.0%) in employment between Q4 2014 and Q4 2015.

Employment in Further Education colleges increased by 100 (+0.5%) to 13,900 in Q4 2015.

Employment in public corporations increased by 200 (+3.0%) over the year to Q4 2015, increasing from 7,200 in Q4 2014 to 7,400 in Q4 2015.

Over the year, employment in other public bodies increased by 1,200 (8.7%). This was mainly due to the creation of Historic Environment Scotland, a non-departmental public body.

Contact

Email: Claire Gordon

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