How many people work in the public sector in the UK?

The ONS estimated public sector employment at 6.21 million in June 2026, 18.0% of everyone in work, in its release of 15 September 2026. That included 2.07 million in the NHS, 1.97 million in local government and 557,000 in the Civil Service.

The figures are headcounts, published quarterly, with breakdowns by sector, industry and region and full-time equivalents in the datasets. Central government employment reached a record 4.08 million, partly because local authority schools becoming academies move staff from local to central government.

Such reclassifications can make one part of the public sector appear to grow while another shrinks. Check whether a claim uses headcount or full-time equivalent and which body is included.

Official sources: ONS: Public sector employment

The latest figure

The newest value is at Office for National Statistics (ONS). More on it: UK job vacancies.

When is the next figure out?

Monthly, usually a Tuesday in the middle of the month, 7am, in the ONS labour market release; next release 20 October 2026

Every official release due in the next two weeks is on the release calendar.

Terms used in this answer

• ILO unemployment
  The internationally agreed definition of unemployment: people without a job who have looked for work in the past four weeks and can start within two weeks.
• Rolling average
  An average recalculated each period over a fixed window, such as the latest three months or twelve months, to smooth out short-term ups and downs.
• Seasonally adjusted
  Figures that have had regular calendar patterns removed, such as Christmas shopping or summer jobs, so that underlying movements between months or quarters can be seen.
• Provisional figures
  Early estimates published before all data are in, so users get timely figures. They are expected to be updated when later data arrive.
• Revisions
  Changes to previously published figures, made when more complete data, improved methods or updated seasonal factors become available. A normal part of official statistics.

Related questions

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• How many staff work for the NHS?
• How many teachers are there in England?

This answer says where the official figures are published and how they are defined. It gives no verdict on any claim. To report an error, send a correction request. More questions about work, pay and employment: all Work, pay and employment questions.