Civil Service workforce up 2,000 to almost 20-year high, figures suggest
The UK Civil Service workforce grew by 2,000 in the first three months of this year to reach its highest level for nearly two decades, figures suggest.
A total of 550,000 people were employed in the Civil Service as of March 2025, according to new data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
This is up from 548,000 in December 2024 and a rise of 1% year-on-year from 544,000 in March 2024.
Headcount fell to 416,000 in June 2016, the month of the EU referendum.
Since that date, the total has risen steadily, driven chiefly by the impact of Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Government announced in April this year that it planned to cut around 2,100 staff from the Cabinet Office, as part of a plan to shrink the Civil Service and reduce the cost of bureaucracy.
Some 1,200 roles will disappear through redundancies, while 900 will be transferred to other departments.
The latest Civil Service headcount of 550,000 is nearly a third higher (32%) than it was in 2016, or an increase of 134,000.
Of the 550,000, almost 443,000 are full-time roles and the remainder are part-time positions.
The last time the quarterly headcount was higher than the current figure was in June 2006, when it stood at 553,000.
The total was on a downwards path during the second half of the 2000s and this trend continued into the 2010s until the EU referendum in 2016, after which the headcount began to climb.
It grew by 40,000 in the years between 2016 and the start of the pandemic, as thousands of people were recruited to manage the complex and lengthy Brexit process.
There was then a further jump once the pandemic was under way, as the Government hired staff to oversee huge projects such as the furlough scheme, testing for Covid-19 and the rollout of the vaccination programme.
Headcount increased by 56,000 between March 2020, when the first lockdown began, and March 2022.
By June 2024, just ahead of the general election on July 4, the total had reached at 546,000, since when the figure has increased by a further 4,000.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said in March that Civil Service running costs would be reduced by 15% by the end of the decade.
As well as abolishing quangos such as NHS England, ministers have committed to increasing the proportion of civil servants working in digital and data roles, creating a workforce 'fit for the future'.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Associated Press
20 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Moderna to Present at Upcoming Barclays Speaking the Science Call Series on June 16, 2025
CAMBRIDGE, MA / ACCESS Newswire / June 11, 2025 / Moderna, Inc. (Nasdaq:MRNA), today announced its participation in the following upcoming investor event: Barclays Speaking the Science Call Series, on Monday, June 16th at 10:00am ET A live webcast of this presentation will be available under 'Events and Presentations' in the Investors section of the Moderna website. A replay of this webcast will be archived on Moderna's website for at least 30 days following the presentation. About Moderna Moderna is a leader in the creation of the field of mRNA medicine. Through the advancement of mRNA technology, Moderna is reimagining how medicines are made and transforming how we treat and prevent disease for everyone. By working at the intersection of science, technology and health for more than a decade, the company has developed medicines at unprecedented speed and efficiency, including one of the earliest and most effective COVID-19 vaccines. Moderna's mRNA platform has enabled the development of therapeutics and vaccines for infectious diseases, immuno-oncology, rare diseases and autoimmune diseases. With a unique culture and a global team driven by the Moderna values and mindsets to responsibly change the future of human health, Moderna strives to deliver the greatest possible impact to people through mRNA medicines. For more information about Moderna, please visit and connect with us on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn. Investors: Lavina Talukdar Senior Vice President & Head of Investor Relations 617-209-5834 [email protected] SOURCE: Moderna, Inc. press release
CNBC
29 minutes ago
- CNBC
Here are the winners and losers as the UK unveils spending plans
U.K. Chancellor Rachel Reeves is delivering the government's Spending Review on Wednesday, all eyes on how billions of pounds' worth of public money are split between departments and infrastructure projects. We already know that "protected departments" such as health and defense will see big funding boosts — but losers could surface among "unprotected" units. Departments like the Home Office and those overseeing local government and the environment could see their budgets squeezed as the government targets cost cutting. The review covers two separate avenues of spending: resource expenses — the government's day-to-day running and administration costs — for the next three years, as well as capital expenditure for the next four years, which goes toward improving infrastructure and public services such as new roads, hospitals and military equipment. The Treasury has already said that day-to-day spending will rise by an average of 1.2% for each of the three years while investment (capital) spending will increase by an average of 1.3% a year for four years. That "relatively modest" hike in day-to-day and investment spending means "sharp trade-offs are unavoidable," the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) think tank warned ahead of the review. We've already had a raft of announcements from the government in the run-up to Wednesday's spending announcement, detailing some of the money government departments will receive, ranging from science and housing investment to defense and education. Here's a quick lowdown of what we already know: The government has already announced that defense spending is set to rise from 2.3% of gross domestic product (GDP) to 2.5% by 2027, with the boost funded partly by cuts to the overseas aid budget. The U.K.'s defense plans include building 12 new nuclear-powered attack submarines, a boost to the manufacturing of drone, missiles and munitions, as well as bolstering of cyber warfare capabilities. After defense, the health service is also set to get a big funding boost as one of the government's main spending priorities although we're waiting to see the extent of the funding boost the Department for Health receives. The Treasury has already previewed several largescale infrastructure investments in the run-up to the Wednesday announcement, saying it will allocate £86 billion to fund research and development in the science and tech industries over the next four years, with the aim of boosting growth and innovation. That money will fund research ranging from "new drug treatments and longer lasting batteries to new AI breakthroughs," the government said. The Treasury on Tuesday night announced that Rachel Reeves will unveil a £39 billion boost to social and affordable housing investment in the spending review. Access to state-subsidized social housing, or low-cost new homes, is a particular bugbear for many voters struggling to find affordable places to live. Free school meals in schools will be expanded to more than 500,000 children whose parents receive a welfare payment known as Universal Credit, which is available to those who are on a low income, unemployed or unable to work. Previously, children outside of London were only been eligible for free school meals if their household income was less than £7,400 per year. Transport networks outside of the capital London will get a funding boost of £15.6 billion, focusing on the North and Midlands areas of the country. The government has said it will invest just over £14 billion in building new nuclear power station, Sizewell C as well as smaller modular reactors. It noted the move would create 10,000 jobs and "deliver clean power to millions of homes, cut energy bills and boost energy security." The Spending Review is not a fiscal event, meaning there will be no announcements on taxation, borrowing or spending on Wednesday. Last fall, the government set out its budget and fiscal policies for the year ahead, with Reeves unveiling larger public spending, tax rises and changes to fiscal rules to allow her to borrow for longer-term investment. We know that Reeves is looking to keep to "fiscal rules" set out last fall in her Autumn Budget, however. She also wants day-to-day spending to be funded by tax receipts rather than by borrowing — leaving herself around £9.9 billion worth of "fiscal headroom" to hit that target — and for debt to fall as a share of U.K. gross domestic product, by 2029/30. Those tight fiscal rules have given Reeves little in the way of a financial buffer if U.K. borrowing costs rise to the levels we saw at the start of the year, or if economic growth falters. Economists expect there to further tax rises to be announced in the next Autumn Budget.
Yahoo
30 minutes ago
- Yahoo
The Legacy Paper Group Announces Restart of Paper Machine #8 in Port Huron, Michigan
30,000 Tons of Specialty Paper Capacity Returns Online to Meet Growing Demand for Sustainable Food Packaging PORT HURON, Mich., June 11, 2025 /CNW/ - The Legacy Paper Group, a subsidiary of BMI Group US, today announced plans to restart Paper Machine #8 (PM8) at its Port Huron facility, bringing 30,000 tons of annual production capacity back online after a four-year shutdown. The restart addresses growing market demand for sustainable, lightweight specialty papers used in food packaging and other critical applications. The mill has operated continuously since 1888 under various owners including Port Huron Sulphite and Paper Co., Port Huron Paper, Pentair, EB Eddy Paper, and Domtar Specialty Papers. PM8 itself specializes in producing high-quality, ultra-lightweight papers for quick-serve restaurant packaging, candy wrappers, medical table covers, tissue overwraps, and other sustainable applications. "The fundamentals driving specialty paper demand have never been stronger," said Mark Bessette, Managing Director of The Legacy Paper Group. "Consumer behavior shifts accelerated by the pandemic, combined with intensifying focus on packaging sustainability, have created a significant supply-demand imbalance that PM8 is uniquely positioned to address." Market Dynamics Drive Restart Decision The COVID-19 pandemic permanently altered consumer dining habits, with food delivery and takeout services experiencing sustained growth through platforms like Uber Eats, DoorDash, and Grubhub. This shift created enduring demand for functional, compliant packaging materials that meet the standards of leading global food brands. Simultaneously, public scrutiny of packaging sustainability has intensified, particularly through social media channels. Paper-based packaging offers distinct advantages over plastic alternatives, providing renewable, biodegradable, and compostable solutions without the environmental concerns associated with oil-based plastics and microplastic pollution. "Our customers are demanding sustainable packaging solutions that don't compromise on performance," added Bessette. "The specialty grades we'll produce on PM8 deliver both environmental benefits and the functional properties required for demanding food service applications." Strategic Investment in Growing Market The PM8 restart represents a strategic investment in the expanding lightweight food-grade paper sector. The facility's geographic location provides cost-effective access to key markets throughout the Midwest and Northeast, while established supply chains and experienced workforce enable rapid production ramp-up. "Legacy Port Huron Paper represents the rebirth of our community's rich history of making quality paper. The good-paying jobs created are well needed and will bolster our economic position in the state," said James Freed, Port Huron City Manager. "The restart builds on nearly 140 years of papermaking expertise at the Port Huron site", said Bessette. "We're combining that legacy with new investment to meet evolving customer needs while strengthening our position in the specialty packaging sector." About The Legacy Paper Group The Legacy Paper Group, a BMI Group US company, specializes in producing high-quality specialty papers for packaging and industrial applications. The Legacy Paper Port Huron Mill focuses on sustainable, lightweight paper solutions for food service, medical, and consumer markets. For more information, visit View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE The Legacy Paper Group View original content to download multimedia: Sign in to access your portfolio
