Public sector employment in Scotland: statistics for third quarter 2019

Summary

Infographic:

Infographic text:

• In September 2019, there were 561,500 people employed in the public sector in Scotland, 3.0% more than in September 2018.
• In September 2019, there were 2,054,700 people employed in the private sector in Scotland, 2.9% less than in September 2018.
• Over the year, the devolved public sector headcount increased and reserved public sector headcount increased.
• 504,500 were employed in the devolved public sector in September 2019, 3.0% more than in September 2018.
• Local Government and NHS employ the most employees in the devolved public sector.
• In September 2019, in the devolved public sector, there were 253,000 people employed in Local Government, 164,800 employed in NHS, 28,100 employed in Police and Fire, 20,300 employed in Civil Service, 16,000 employed in Other Public Bodies, 13,900 employed in Further Education and 9,000 employed in Public Corporations.
• Between September 2018 and September 2019, employment in the devolved public sector increased in Further Education Colleges by 0.8%, the NHS by 1.1%, Public Corporations by 0.5%, Civil Service by 14.1%, Police and Fire Related Services by 2.0% and Local Government by 4.0% and decreased in Other Public Bodies by 0.8%.
• Forestry and Land Scotland and Scottish Forestry were classified as public sector from Q2 2019. Community Justice Scotland was classified as public sector from Q2 2017.
• 57,000 people in the public sector were employed in the reserved public sector in Scotland in September 2019, 3.3% more than in September 2018.
• In September 2019, in the reserved public sector, there were 24,600 people employed in Civil Service, 22,800 employed in Other Public Sector, and 9,700 employed in Armed Forces.
• Between September 2018 and September 2019, employment within the reserved public sector increased in Other Public Sector by 11.0% and decreased in the Civil Service by 1.7%. Armed Forces was unchanged.

Key points (based on headcount data) include:

• In September 2019, there were 561,500 people employed in the public sector in Scotland, accounting for 21.5% of total employment.
• Between September 2018 and September 2019, employment in the public sector was 16,420 more than in September 2018.
• When major reclassifications are excluded, the public sector increased between September 2018 and September 2019 by around 13,000 (2.5%).^[1],[2]
• Of the total 561,500 people employed in the public sector in Scotland, 504,500 (89.8%) were employed in the devolved public sector in September 2019, 14,600 (3.0%) more than in September 2018.
• Between September 2018 and September 2019, employment in the devolved public sector increased in Public Corporations by 50 (0.5%), in Local Government by 9,670 (4.0%) (Cordia services moving back under Glasgow City Council services has contributed to this change), Further Education Colleges by 110 (0.8%), the NHS by 1,860 (1.1%), Civil Service by 2,510 (14.1%) and Police and Fire Related Services by 550 (2.0%). Other Public Bodies decreased by 130 (0.8%)
• 57,000 (10.2%) people in the public sector were employed in the reserved public sector in Scotland, 1,820 (3.3%) more than in September 2018.
• Between September 2018 and September 2019, employment within the reserved public sector increased in Other Public Sector by 2,250 (11.0%) and decreased in the Civil Service by 430 (1.7%) and stayed the same for Armed Forces.

About this publication

Major Reclassifications

The estimates of public and private sector employment published in this quarter's release have been impacted by the reclassification of Scottish Registered Social Landlords, which are included in the private sector from September 2018 but are included in the public sector from September 2001 to June 2018. This reclassification has resulted in around 15,000 employees who were included in the public sector up until June 2018 being included in the private sector estimates for September 2018 onwards.

An outline of major reclassifications which have taken place in the Scottish public sector since 2013 are outlined here: https://www2.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Labour-Market/PublicSectorEmployment

A separate public sector series excluding the effects of major reclassifications has been included in this publication to show the impact of the reclassifications on the number of people employed in the public sector.

More information is available on the Public Sector Employment Web Section.

National Accounts Classifications

An outline of National Accounts classifications which have taken place in the Scottish public sector since 2015 are outlined here: https://www2.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Labour-Market/PublicSectorEmployment

Public Sector Employment Web section

The Public Sector Employment Web section provides additional information to this National Statistics publication http://www2.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Labour-Market/PublicSectorEmployment

It contains detailed information including:

• Employment levels for public bodies in Scotland for 16-24 year olds (Q1 2013, Q1 2014, Q1 2015, Q1 2016, Q1 2017, Q1 2018 and Q1 2019).
• Local government employment by local authority for the current quarter. A time series of total local government employment from Q1 1999 and by gender from Q1 2011.
• Detailed tables showing a full time series of data - all quarters back to Q1 1999 - are also available to download.
• Background notes outlining the methodology used to compile this series.

UK Comparisons

Public Sector Employment for Government Office Regions and Nations of the UK can be found in the Office for National Statistics Publication.

Comparisons to UK data should be made using non-seasonally adjusted UK data.

See the regional tables at http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/pse/public-sector-employment/index.html.

Background Notes

Statistics prior to Q1 2008 are estimates. These have been calculated using the total UK reserved public sector employment figure and applying to Scotland on a pro-rata basis as regional level data has only been collected from Q1 2008 onwards.

Background notes about the information contained in our PSE series are available at the following web section: http://www2.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Labour-Market/PublicSectorEmployment/SourcesDef

Next Publication: March 2020