There were around 5.68 million people employed in the public sector in the United Kingdom as of the second quarter of 2021, compared with 6.46 million in late 2009, which was the peak for public sector employment during the provided time period.
Number of public sector employees in the United Kingdom from 1st quarter 1999 to 2nd quarter 2021
(in 1,000s)
Characteristic
Number of employees (in 1,000s)
Q2 2021
5,681
Q1 2021
5,681
Q4 2020
5,598
Q3 2020
5,565
Q2 2020
5,550
Q1 2020
5,464
Q4 2019
5,436
Q3 2019
5,417
Q2 2019
5,393
Q1 2019
5,375
Q4 2018
5,360
Q3 2018
5,343
Q2 2018
5,349
Q1 2018
5,350
Q4 2017
5,343
Q3 2017
5,474
Q2 2017
5,480
Q1 2017
5,474
Q4 2016
5,474
Q3 2016
5,484
Q2 2016
5,487
Q1 2016
5,497
Q4 2015
5,500
Q3 2015
5,489
Q2 2015
5,500
Q1 2015
5,517
Q4 2014
5,540
Q3 2014
5,545
Q2 2014
5,558
Q1 2014
5,569
Q4 2013
5,678
Q3 2013
5,849
Q2 2013
5,841
Q1 2013
5,844
Q4 2012
5,854
Q3 2012
5,865
Q2 2012
5,888
Q1 2012
6,125
Q4 2011
6,164
Q3 2011
6,200
Q2 2011
6,235
Q1 2011
6,317
Q4 2010
6,342
Q3 2010
6,380
Q2 2010
6,433
Q1 2010
6,449
Q4 2009
6,462
Q3 2009
6,462
Q2 2009
6,437
Q1 2009
6,431
Q4 2008
6,433
Q3 2008
6,169
Q2 2008
6,019
Q1 2008
6,000
Q4 2007
6,020
Q3 2007
6,019
Q2 2007
6,029
Q1 2007
6,034
Q4 2006
6,035
Q3 2006
6,047
Q2 2006
6,063
Q1 2006
6,071
Q4 2005
6,086
Q3 2005
6,093
Q2 2005
6,089
Q1 2005
6,056
Q4 2004
6,040
Q3 2004
6,027
Q2 2004
5,995
Q1 2004
5,968
Q4 2003
5,937
Q3 2003
5,897
Q2 2003
5,857
Q1 2003
5,825
Q4 2002
5,777
Q3 2002
5,726
Q2 2002
5,694
Q1 2002
5,669
Q4 2001
5,630
Q3 2001
5,606
Q2 2001
5,580
Q1 2001
5,554
Q4 2000
5,526
Q3 2000
5,514
Q2 2000
5,490
Q1 2000
5,472
Q4 1999
5,459
Q3 1999
5,433
Q2 1999
5,410
Q1 1999
5,399
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Office for National Statistics (UK). (December 14, 2021). Number of public sector employees in the United Kingdom from 1st quarter 1999 to 2nd quarter 2021 (in 1,000s) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved January 18, 2022, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/623259/public-sector-workforce-uk/
Office for National Statistics (UK). "Number of public sector employees in the United Kingdom from 1st quarter 1999 to 2nd quarter 2021 (in 1,000s)." Chart. December 14, 2021. Statista. Accessed January 18, 2022. https://www.statista.com/statistics/623259/public-sector-workforce-uk/
Office for National Statistics (UK). (2021). Number of public sector employees in the United Kingdom from 1st quarter 1999 to 2nd quarter 2021 (in 1,000s). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: January 18, 2022. https://www.statista.com/statistics/623259/public-sector-workforce-uk/
Office for National Statistics (UK). "Number of Public Sector Employees in The United Kingdom from 1st Quarter 1999 to 2nd Quarter 2021 (in 1,000s)." Statista, Statista Inc., 14 Dec 2021, https://www.statista.com/statistics/623259/public-sector-workforce-uk/
Office for National Statistics (UK), Number of public sector employees in the United Kingdom from 1st quarter 1999 to 2nd quarter 2021 (in 1,000s) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/623259/public-sector-workforce-uk/ (last visited January 18, 2022)
