Public Sector Employment In Scotland Statistics For 4th Quarter 2021

Summary

Key points (based on headcount data) include:

• In December 2021, there were 589,600 people employed in the public sector in Scotland, accounting for 22.3% of total employment^[1].
• In December 2021, employment in the public sector was 16,330 (2.8%) more than in December 2020.
• When major reclassifications are excluded, the public sector increased between December 2020 and December 2021 by around 16,000 (2.9%)^[2].
• Of the total 589,600 people employed in the public sector in Scotland, 534,400 (90.6%) were employed in the devolved public sector in December 2021, 15,660 (3.0%) more than in December 2020.
• Between December 2020 and December 2021, employment in the devolved public sector increased in the NHS by 8,080 (4.7%), in the Civil Service by 2,810 (13.0%) and in Local Government by 5,560 (2.2%). Employment in the devolved public sector decreased in Further Education Colleges by -110 (-0.9%), Police and Fire Related Services by -140 (-0.5%), Other Public Bodies by -390 (-2.5%) and in Public Corporations by -140 (-1.0%).
• In December 2021, 55,200 (9.4%) people in the public sector were employed in the reserved public sector in Scotland, 670 (1.2%) more than in December 2020.
• Between December 2020 and December 2021, employment within the reserved public sector increased in the Civil Service by 540 (2.2%) and in Armed Forces by 300 (3.1%). Employment decreased in Other Public Sector^[3] by -170 (-0.8%).