High Level Summary of Statistics Trend Last update: Wednesday, March 14, 2011
Public Sector Employment
In Q4 2011 there were 586,600 people employed in the public sector in Scotland, a decrease of 23,800 (3.9%) since Q4 2010.
There were 2,464,000 people in employment in Scotland in Q4 2011 an decrease of 0.6% from 2,480,000 in Q4 2010. In Q4 2011 public sector employment accounted for 23.8% of total employment, down from 24.6 % in Q4 2010 and marginally down from 24.2% in Q4 1999 (In 1999 financial institutions were not included in the public sector).
Of the total 586,600 people employed in the public sector in Scotland, 490,400 (83.6%) is accounted for by public sector employment devolved to Scotland and 96,200 (16.4%) relates to reserved public sector employment.
Total employment in the devolved public sector has decreased from 509,500 in Q4 2010 to 490,400 in Q4 2011, a decrease of 19,100 (3.7%) over the year. This has been driven by a decrease in local government employment. Total local government employment decreased by 12,000 (4.1%) over the year to Q4 2011.
Employment in the reserved public sector (with a presence in Scotland) has decreased by 4,700 (4.7%) since Q4 2010. This is largely due to employment in Public Sector Financial Institutions (part of the reserved public sector) decreasing in the last year by 2,000 (5.7%). Within the reserved public sector, the civil service category saw a decrease over the year by 700 (2.1%) to 30,300.
If banks were not included in the series total public sector employment would have decreased by slightly less, 21,800 (3.8%), instead of 23,800 (3.9%) over the year. Employment in the reserved public sector in Scotland would have decreased by 2,700 (4.2%) instead of by 4,700 (4.7%) over the year.
Breakdown of Devolved Public Sector Employment in Scotland, Q4 2011
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Source: Public Sector Employment in Scotland, Scottish Government
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