Public sector employment in Scotland: statistics for second quarter 2018

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

Public sector employment increased very slightly (with an increased headcount of 50 (0.0%)) between June 2017 and June 2018, while private sector employment fell by 1.5%. Public sector employment in Scotland has remained relatively constant since Q1 2014 ^[1] .

The public sector is defined according to the UK National Accounts Classifications Guide .

Figure 1 provides a summary of total employment in Scotland and the breakdown of public and private sector employment.

Figure 1: Public and Private Sector Employment in Scotland as at June 2018

Source: Public Sector Employment in Scotland, Quarter 2 2018

Chart 1: Public Sector Employment in Scotland between June 1999 and June 2018, Headcount, non-seasonally adjusted

Source: Public Sector Employment in Scotland, Quarter 2 2018

Chart 1 shows that the number of people employed in the public sector has remained relatively constant since Q1 2014. Excluding the effects of major reclassifications ^[2] (i.e. taking out the headcounts for all large organisations listed in footnote 2 from the overall numbers), the number of people employed in the public sector gradually reached a peak in Q2 2006, decreased to Q3 2013 and has remained relatively constant since then.

Chart 2 shows the annual change in employment for the public sector.

Chart 2: Annual Change in Employment for Public Sector, Headcount

Source: Public Sector Employment in Scotland, Quarter 2 2018

I mpact of Excluding Major Reclassifications from Public Sector

If the major reclassifications ^[2] were to be excluded from the public sector series (i.e. the headcounts for all large organisations listed in footnote 2 were taken out of the overall numbers), there would be around 531,800 people employed in the public sector in June 2018. This was 20.1% of the total employment in Scotland compared with 21.1% if major reclassifications are included.

Public Sector employment, excluding the effects of the major reclassifications, would be 900 (0.2%) higher in June 2018 compared with June 2017.

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