Public sector employment in Scotland: statistics for third quarter 2018

5. Civil Service Employment in Scotland; Headcount

(see Tables 6 and 7)

This section provides a summary of the civil service in Scotland.

In September 2018, there were 42,500 people employed as civil servants in Scotland. This is made up of 17,800 (41.9%) people working in the Devolved Civil Service and 24,700 (58.1%) working in UK government departments. The total number of civil servants has fallen by 70 (0.2%) between September 2017 and September 2018.

The devolved civil service is made up of:

• Scottish Government Core Departments
• Scottish Government Agencies
• Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
• Non-Ministerial Departments

The reserved civil service is made up of:

• UK Government Departments
• Scotland Office

Devolved Civil Service

The Devolved Civil Service has 650 (3.8%) more people employed since September 2017.

Chart 6 shows a breakdown of the Devolved Civil Service in Scotland as of September 2018^[8].

Chart 6: Breakdown of Devolved Civil Service Employment in Scotland as at September 2018, Headcount

Source: Public Sector Employment in Scotland, Quarter 3 2018

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

Scottish Government Core

In September 2018, there were 6,200 people employed in Scottish Government (SG) Core Directorates, which is 34.7% of the devolved civil service in Scotland. Employment in SG Core Directorates was 510 (9.0%) higher in September 2018, compared with September 2017. This rise in employment is mainly due to the devolution of powers from the UK Government to the Scottish Government^[9].

Scottish Government Agencies^[10]

There were 6,300 people employed in Scottish Government Agencies in September 2018. Employment in SG Agencies increased by 150 (2.4%) compared with September 2017.

Non Ministerial Departments

Non Ministerial Departments (NMD) include National Records of Scotland, Registers of Scotland, Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service, Scottish Housing Regulator (from April 2012), Revenue Scotland (from January 2015), Food Standards Scotland (from April 2015) and Scottish Fiscal Commission (from September 2017). In September 2018, there were 3,600 people employed in these NMDs. This was 50 (1.5%) less than in September 2017.

Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal

In September 2018, there were 1,800 people employed in the Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal, an increase of 40 (2.6%).

Reserved Civil Service

Employment in the Reserved Civil Service was 710 (2.8%) lower than in September 2017, decreasing from 25,400 in September 2017 to 24,700 in September 2018.

Chart 7 identifies the breakdown of headcount employment in UK government departments as at September 2018.

Chart 7: Breakdown of Employment in the UK Government Departments as of September 2018

Source: Public Sector Employment in Scotland, Quarter 3 2018
Note: Totals may not equal the sum of individual parts due to rounding.

Department for Work and Pensions

In September 2018, there were 9,000 people employed in the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Employment in DWP was 440 (4.6%) lower in September 2018, compared with September 2017.

HM Revenue and Customs

There were 8,300 people employed in HM Revenue and Customs in September 2018, 630 (7.0%) lower than September 2017.

Ministry of Defence

There were 4,100 people employed in the Ministry of Defence in September 2018, 60 (1.5%) higher than September 2017.

Other Civil Service^[11]

The number of people employed in Other Reserved Civil Service in September 2018 increased by 180 (8.6%), compared with September 2017.

Department for International Development

The number of people employed in the Department for International Development in September 2018 was 900, 100 (12.9%) higher than September 2017.

Scotland Office

In September 2018, there were 80 people employed in the Scotland Office, an increase of 10 (14.5%) since September 2017.