UK public sector employment falls in June ’24

UK public sector employment decreased slightly in June 2024, with a total of 5.94 million employees, down by 16,000 (0.3 per cent) from March 2024. However, this figure remains higher than in June 2023.

The decrease was largely due to the reclassification of 39,000 employees (20.1 per cent) from public corporations to the private sector, reducing public corporation employment to 155,000.

Central government employment rose to 3.79 million, a 24,000 (0.6 per cent) increase from March 2024 and up 120,000 (3.3 per cent) year-on-year.

The National Health Service (NHS) saw an increase of 10,000 (0.5 per cent) employees, bringing its total to 2.03 million, a 65,000 (3.3 per cent) rise compared to June 2023. Civil Service employment grew to 546,000, an increase of 2,000 (0.4 per cent) from March and 24,000 (4.6 per cent) from the previous year.

Local government employment declined slightly to 2.00 million, a drop of 1,000 (0.1 per cent) from March 2024 and 5,000 (0.2 per cent) compared to June 2023.

Attribution: The Office for National Statistics (ONS)

Subediting: M. S. Salama