Public sector employment in Scotland: statistics for third quarter 2018

Summary

Key points (based on headcount data) include:

• In September 2018, there were 545,100 people employed in the public sector in Scotland, accounting for 20.7% of total employment.
• Between September 2017 and September 2018, employment in the public sector has fallen by 14,590 less than in September 2017. This is mainly due to Registered Social Landlords, often described as housing associations, being reclassified to the private sector from Q3 2018 onwards.
• When major reclassifications are excluded, the devolved public sector increased between September 2017 and September 2018 by 1,480 (0.3%)^[1].
• Of the total 545,100 people employed in the public sector in Scotland, 89.8% were employed in the devolved public sector.
• 489,700 were employed in the devolved public sector in September 2018, 13,520 (2.7%) less than in September 2017^[2].
• Between September 2017 and September 2018, employment in the devolved public sector decreased in Police and Fire Related Services by 100 (0.4%) and Local Government by 300 (0.1%), Public Corporations by 14,730 (63.5%)^[3] and increased in Further Education Colleges by 300 (2.2%), the NHS by 250 (0.2%), other public bodies by 410 (2.6%) and Civil Service by 650 (3.8%).
• 55,400 (10.2%) of people in the public sector were employed in the reserved public sector in Scotland, 1,070 (1.9%) less than in September 2017.
• Between September 2017 and September 2018, employment within the reserved public sector decreased in Public Corporations & Public Sector Financial Institutions by 770 (6.8%), in the Armed Forces by 60 (0.6%) and in the Civil Service by 710 (2.8%) and increased in Public Bodies by 480 (4.9%).