Public Sector Employment in Scotland Statistics for 1st Quarter 2025

Devolved Public Sector Employment in Scotland; Headcount

The devolved public sector includes:

• Devolved Civil Service
• 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).

Employment in the devolved public sector was 550,000 in March 2025. This is 880 (0.2%) higher than in March 2024.  This increase is largely due to an increase in NHS employment of 1,160 (0.6%).

Figure 5: Local Government and NHS employ the largest number of people in the Devolved Public Sector

Breakdown of Devolved Public Sector employment (Headcount) in Scotland as at March 2025

Note: Totals may not equal the sum of the individual parts due to rounding

Source: Public Sector Employment in Scotland, Quarter 1 2025

The increase over the year in the devolved public sector headcount was due to the following changes (changes are given from March 2024 to March 2025):

• employment in NHS increased by 1,160 (0.6%) to 188,300[1]
• employment in Devolved Civil Service increased by 650 (2.3%) to 28,800
• employment in Police and Fire Related Services increased by 350 (1.3%) to 27,600
• employment in Other Public Bodies increased by 270 (1.2%) to 23,200
• employment in Public Corporations increased by 510 (6.1%) to 9,000

while:

• employment in Local Government decreased by 1,830 (-0.7%) to 261,000
• employment in Further Education Colleges decreased by 220 (-1.8%) to 12,200

Figure 6: Public Corporations had the largest percentage increase over the year across the Devolved Public Sector

Change in Devolved Public Sector employment (Headcount) in Scotland from March 2024 to March 2025

Source: Public Sector Employment in Scotland, Quarter 1 2025