High Level Summary of Statistics Trend Last update: Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Public Sector Employment
In Q3 2011 there were 588,900 people employed in the public sector in Scotland, a decrease of 23,500 (3.8%) since Q3 2010.
There were 2,486,000 people in employment in Scotland in Q 3 2011, an increase of 0.3% from 2,479,000 in Q3 2010. In Q 3 2011 public sector employment accounted for 23.7 % of total employment, down from 24.7% in Q3 2010 and from 23.8% in Q3 1999 . (In 1999 the banking sector was not included in the public sector).
Of the total 588,900 people employed in the public sector in Scotland, 492,100 (83.6%) is accounted for by public bodies devolved to Scotland and 96,900 (16.4%) relates to reserved public sector employment.
Total employment in the devolved public sector has decreased from 513,300 in Q3 2010 to 492,100 in Q3 2011, a decrease of 21,200 (4.1%) over the year. This has been driven by a decrease in local government employment. Total local government employment decreased by 13,300 (4.5%) over the year to Q3 2011.
Employment in the reserved public sector (with a presence in Scotland) has decreased by 2,300 (2.3%) , since Q3 2010. Reserved public sector financial institutions increased by 100 (0.4%) in the last year and the reserved civil service decreased by 700 (2.1%).
If banks were not included in the series, total public sector employment would have decreased by more, 23,600 (4.1%) instead of 23,500 (3.8%) over the year.
Employment in the reserved public sector in Scotland would have decreased by 2,400 (3.7%) instead of by 2,300 (2.3%) over the year. Financial institutions are not included in the devolved public sector total.
Breakdown of Devolved Public Sector Employment in Scotland, Q3 2011
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Source: Public Sector Employment in Scotland, Scottish Government
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