Public sector employment in Scotland: statistics for third quarter 2020

5. Civil Service Employment in Scotland; Headcount (see Tables 5 and 6)

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

In September 2020, there were 45,600 people employed as civil servants in Scotland. This is made up of 21,400 (47.0%) people working in the Devolved Civil Service and 24,100 (53.0%) working in UK government departments. The total number of civil servants has increased by 690 (1.5%) between September 2019 and September 2020.

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 1,110 (5.5%) more people employed since September 2019.

Chart 6 shows a breakdown of the Devolved Civil Service in Scotland as of September 2020^[6].

Source: Public Sector Employment in Scotland, Quarter 3 2020

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

Scottish Government Core

In September 2020, there were 7,500 people employed in Scottish Government (SG) Core Directorates, which is 34.8% of the devolved civil service in Scotland. Employment in SG Core Directorates was 540 (7.7%) higher in September 2020, compared with September 2019.

Scottish Government Agencies^[7]

There were 8,200 people employed in Scottish Government Agencies in September 2020. Employment in SG Agencies increased by 470 (6.1%) compared with September 2019.

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 2020, there were 3,800 people employed in these NMDs. This was 60 (1.5%) more than in September 2019.

Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal

In September 2020, there were 2,000 people employed in the Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal, an increase of 50 (2.4%) since September 2019.

Reserved Civil Service

Employment in the Reserved Civil Service was 430 (1.7%) lower than in September 2019, decreasing from 24,600 in September 2019 to 24,100 in September 2020.

Chart 7 identifies the breakdown of headcount employment in UK government departments as at September 2020.

Source: Public Sector Employment in Scotland, Quarter 3 2020
Note: Totals may not equal the sum of individual parts due to rounding

Department for Work and Pensions

In September 2020, there were 8,300 people employed in the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Employment in DWP was 130 (1.6%) lower in September 2020 compared with September 2019.

HM Revenue and Customs

There were 7,600 people employed in HM Revenue and Customs in September 2020, 520 (6.4%) fewer than September 2019.

Ministry of Defence

There were 4,100 people employed in the Ministry of Defence in September 2020, 40 (1.1%) fewer than September 2019.

Other Civil Service^[8]

The number of people employed in Other Reserved Civil Service in September 2020 was 3,100 , 260 (9.4%) higher than September 2019.

Department for International Development

The number of people employed in the Department for International Development in September 2020 was 1,000, 10 (0.5%) higher than September 2019.

Scotland Office

https://www.gov.scot/publications/public-sector-employment-statistics-web-tables/