High Level Summary of Statistics Trend Last update: Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Public Sector Employment
As at Quarter 2 (Q2) 2009 there were 614,700 people employed within the public sector in Scotland. This was an increase of 38,400 (6.7%) since the previous year and an increase of 87,400 (16.6%) since 1999. The large increase in public sector employment over the year is caused by the reclassification of the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and Lloyds Banking Group as public corporations. Total public sector employment currently accounts for 24.8% of total employment in Scotland. This has increased from 23.1% in Q2 1999 and increased from 22.7% in Q2 2008.
If we exclude public sector financial institutions (RBS, Lloyds and Northern Rock) from the series, there would be 572,200 people employed in the public sector, representing 23.1% of total employment in Scotland. Excluding these banking groups, public sector employment would have increased by 4,200 (0.7%) over the year.
In Q2 2009 the number of people employed in the private sector was 1,866,900. This is a decrease of 100,300 (5.1%) on the previous year and and increase of 110,100 (6.3%) since 1999.
Of those 614,700 people employed in the public sector, 81.7% (502,000) work in public bodies devolved to Scotland. The reamining 18.3% (112,200) work in public bodies which are the responsibility of the UK Government and 0.1% (510) work in the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body.
Since Q2 2008, employment in public bodies devolved to Scotland has decreased by 4,400 (0.9%). During the same time employment in public bodies which are the responsibility of the UK Government has increased by 42,800 (61.6%). Although if we exclude the public sector financial institutions, employment in UK-wide public bodies has increased by only 200 (0.4%) over the year.
View chart data
Source: Public Sector Employment in Scotland, Scottish Government
Further Information