Public sector employment up in response to Covid

Total public sector employment increased in September 2021 the ONS has found, largely due to the response of the NHS and civil service to Covid.

There were an estimated 5.7 million employees in the public sector in September, 22,000 (0.4%) more than June 2021 and 137,000 (2.5%) more than September 2020.

Employment in central government stood at 3.5 million in September 2021, a rise of 22,000 (0.6%) compared with June 2021 and 146,000 (4.4%) compared with September 2020. The NHS employed an estimated 1.85 million people in September 2021, an increase of 2,000 (0.1%) over June 2021 and 73,000 (4.1%) compared with September 2020. According to the ONS, the response to the coronavirus pandemic has driven the increase on the previous year.

It also found that there were 505,000 employees in the civil service for September 2021, up 7,000 (1.4%) compared with June 2021 and 42,000 (9.1%) more than for September 2020; the increase on the previous year was partly driven by the response to the pandemic, it added

Private sector employment was an estimated 26.81 million for September 2021, an increase of 127,000 (0.5%) compared with June 2021 and 56,000 (0.2%) more than for September 2020.

Finally, employment in local government was 2.01 million; this was up 3,000 (0.1%) compared with June 2021 and 1,000 (0.0%) compared with September 2020.

https://www.ons.gov.uk/releases/publicsectoremploymentukseptember2021