Public Sector Employment in Scotland Statistics for 2nd 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 547,500 in June 2025. This is similar to the level in June 2024 (547,600). 

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 June 2025

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

Source: Public Sector Employment in Scotland, Quarter 2 2025

The devolved public sector headcount saw the following changes over the year (changes are given from June 2024 to June 2025):

• employment in NHS increased by 1,130 (0.6%) to 187,400[1]
• employment in Devolved Civil Service increased by 430 (1.5%) to 28,700
• employment in Police and Fire Related Services increased by 400 (1.5%) to 27,500
• employment in Other Public Bodies increased by 210 (0.9%) to 23,400
• employment in Public Corporations increased by 500 (5.9%) to 9,000

while:

• employment in Local Government decreased by 2,460 (-0.9%) to 260,000
• employment in Further Education Colleges decreased by 340 (-2.8%) to 11,800

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 June 2024 to June 2025

Source: Public Sector Employment in Scotland, Quarter 2 2025