There were around 6.1 million people employed in the public sector in the United Kingdom as of the third quarter of 2024, compared with 6.46 million in late 2009, which was the peak for public sector employment during the provided time period.
Number and percentage of public sector employees in the United Kingdom from 1st quarter 2000 to 3rd quarter 2024
(in 1,000s)
Characteristic
Number of employees in thousands
Q3 2024
6,118
Q2 2024
6,092
Q1 2024
6,116
Q4 2023
6,090
Q3 2023
6,055
Q2 2023
6,000
Q1 2023
5,966
Q4 2022
5,930
Q3 2022
5,900
Q2 2022
5,880
Q1 2022
5,873
Q4 2021
5,858
Q3 2021
5,836
Q2 2021
5,816
Q1 2021
5,812
Q4 2020
5,733
Q3 2020
5,698
Q2 2020
5,692
Q1 2020
5,605
Q4 2019
5,577
Q3 2019
5,561
Q2 2019
5,536
Q1 2019
5,519
Q4 2018
5,507
Q3 2018
5,490
Q2 2018
5,496
Q1 2018
5,498
Q4 2017
5,497
Q3 2017
5,629
Q2 2017
5,638
Q1 2017
5,636
Q4 2016
5,634
Q3 2016
5,647
Q2 2016
5,649
Q1 2016
5,661
Q4 2015
5,665
Q3 2015
5,659
Q2 2015
5,671
Q1 2015
5,689
Q4 2014
5,711
Q3 2014
5,722
Q2 2014
5,737
Q1 2014
5,749
Q4 2013
5,858
Q3 2013
6,028
Q2 2013
6,024
Q1 2013
6,024
Q4 2012
6,044
Q3 2012
6,058
Q2 2012
6,082
Q1 2012
6,123
Q4 2011
6,162
Q3 2011
6,200
Q2 2011
6,238
Q1 2011
6,316
Q4 2010
6,341
Q3 2010
6,382
Q2 2010
6,436
Q1 2010
6,446
Q4 2009
6,460
Q3 2009
6,463
Q2 2009
6,439
Q1 2009
6,429
Q4 2008
6,429
Q3 2008
6,169
Q2 2008
6,019
Q1 2008
5,997
Q4 2007
6,023
Q3 2007
6,018
Q2 2007
6,028
Q1 2007
6,033
Q4 2006
6,037
Q3 2006
6,045
Q2 2006
6,061
Q1 2006
6,072
Q4 2005
6,087
Q3 2005
6,091
Q2 2005
6,090
Q1 2005
6,059
Q4 2004
6,039
Q3 2004
6,026
Q2 2004
5,995
Q1 2004
5,970
Q4 2003
5,937
Q3 2003
5,894
Q2 2003
5,858
Q1 2003
5,827
Q4 2002
5,776
Q3 2002
5,724
Q2 2002
5,695
Q1 2002
5,670
Q4 2001
5,629
Q3 2001
5,605
Q2 2001
5,581
Q1 2001
5,554
Q4 2000
5,526
Q3 2000
5,513
Q2 2000
5,491
Q1 2000
5,472
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Office for National Statistics (UK). (December 17, 2024). Number and percentage of public sector employees in the United Kingdom from 1st quarter 2000 to 3rd quarter 2024 (in 1,000s) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved December 18, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/623259/public-sector-workforce-uk/
Office for National Statistics (UK). "Number and percentage of public sector employees in the United Kingdom from 1st quarter 2000 to 3rd quarter 2024 (in 1,000s)." Chart. December 17, 2024. Statista. Accessed December 18, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/623259/public-sector-workforce-uk/
Office for National Statistics (UK). (2024). Number and percentage of public sector employees in the United Kingdom from 1st quarter 2000 to 3rd quarter 2024 (in 1,000s). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: December 18, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/623259/public-sector-workforce-uk/
Office for National Statistics (UK). "Number and Percentage of Public Sector Employees in The United Kingdom from 1st Quarter 2000 to 3rd Quarter 2024 (in 1,000s)." Statista, Statista Inc., 17 Dec 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/623259/public-sector-workforce-uk/
Office for National Statistics (UK), Number and percentage of public sector employees in the United Kingdom from 1st quarter 2000 to 3rd quarter 2024 (in 1,000s) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/623259/public-sector-workforce-uk/ (last visited December 18, 2024)
Number and percentage of public sector employees in the United Kingdom from 1st quarter 2000 to 3rd quarter 2024 (in 1,000s) [Graph], Office for National Statistics (UK), December 17, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/623259/public-sector-workforce-uk/
