Public Sector Employment UK - June 2023

12th September 2023

Total public sector employment increased in June 2023 compared with the previous quarter and the previous year; central government is the main contributor to the rise with smaller increases in local government and public corporations.

There were an estimated 5.87 million employees in the public sector in June 2023, which is 36,000 (0.6%) more than in March 2023 and 133,000 (2.3%) more than in June 2022.

Employment in central government was an estimated 3.67 million in June 2023, a rise of 30,000 (0.8%) compared with March 2023 and 116,000 (3.3%) compared with June 2022; the main contributors to this increase were the NHS, the Civil Service, and local authority schools becoming academies.

The NHS employed an estimated 1.96 million people in June 2023, an increase of 21,000 (1.1%) compared with March 2023 and an increase of 78,000 (4.1%) compared with June 2022.

Employment in local government was an estimated 2.00 million for June 2023, an increase of 4,000 (0.2%) since March 2023 and 10,000 (0.5%) since June 2022; an increase in employment in the police has contributed to the increase from a year ago.

There were 522,000 employees in the Civil Service in June 2023, up 1,000 (0.2%) compared with March 2023, and up 10,000 (2.0%) compared with June 2022.

There were an estimated 27.01 million employees in the private sector in June 2023, which is 243,000 (0.9%) fewer than in March 2023 but 3,000 (0.0%) more than in June 2022.

Read he full ONS report HERE