Civil Service workforce
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- 1. Navigate to Main facts and figures section
- 2. Navigate toBy ethnicity section
- 3. Navigate toBy ethnicity over time section
- 4. Navigate toBy ethnicity and grade section
- 5. Navigate toBy ethnicity and area section
- 6. Navigate toBy ethnicity and gender section
- 7. Navigate toBy ethnicity and age group section
- 8. Navigate to Methodology section
- 9. Navigate to Data sources section
- 10. Navigate to Download the data section
1. Main facts and figures
- there were around 445,480 UK civil servants working in the UK and overseas at the end of March 2019
- 87.3% of civil servants were from the White ethnic group (compared with 85.6% of the working age population in the 2011 Census)
- 6.6% of civil servants were Asian, 3.4% were Black, 1.8% had Mixed ethnicity, 0.6% were from the Other ethnic group, and 0.3% were from the Chinese ethnic group
- out of all regions in the UK, London had the highest percentage of staff from each of the ethnic minority groups
- male civil servants were more likely to be White (88.3%) than female civil servants (86.5%)
- excluding the 16 to 19 and 65+ groups, the younger staff were, the more likely they were to be from ethnic minorities (excluding White minorities)
Things you need to know
22% of civil servants didn’t report their ethnicity in 2019. The tables and total headcounts include civil servants whose ethnicity was not known. The percentages are based only on staff whose ethnicity was known.
Civil service staff numbers are rounded to the nearest 10. Because of this, some figures may not add up to the totals shown.
The data doesn’t include people working for:
- the NHS
- non-departmental public bodies
- the Civil Service abroad
- the Northern Ireland Civil Service, which supports the devolved government in Northern Ireland
- central government in security posts
It also doesn’t include people who were:
- not on the payroll (such as contractors)
- not paid during the period covered (such as staff taking unpaid leave)
There are 2 measures of the senior Civil Service available:
- the Senior Civil Service
- ‘SCS Level’, which also includes some senior professionals in health, military and diplomatic roles
This data uses the ‘SCS Level’ measure. As a result, figures may be different to those used for monitoring diversity of the Senior Civil Service.
Comparisons to the population have been made using data on the working age population (people aged 16 to 64 years) in England and Wales, taken from the 2011 Census. As this is a different geographic area to the data on civil servants, please treat the comparison as indicative only.
What the data measures
This data shows the percentage of civil servants who come from different ethnic groups. Data is also broken down by grade, region, gender and age.
The data counts civil servants working in the UK on a specific date (31 March), rather than throughout the whole year.
It comes from the Annual Civil Service Employment Survey.
On 31 March 2019, there were 445,480 civil servants in the UK. 77% of those worked full time, and 23% part time.
The data shows the actual number of civil servants (known as ‘headcount’) regardless of whether they worked full time or part time.
The ethnic categories used in this data
This data is broken down into the following 6 broad groups:
- Asian
- Black
- Chinese
- Mixed ethnic groups
- White
- Other ethnic group
These groups were chosen to keep them at a size where estimates are reliable.
2. By ethnicity
| Ethnicity | % | Headcount |
|---|---|---|
| Asian | 6.6 | 23,190 |
| Black | 3.4 | 11,990 |
| Chinese | 0.3 | 1,080 |
| Mixed | 1.8 | 6,140 |
| White | 87.3 | 304,850 |
| Other | 0.6 | 1,980 |
| Unknown | N/A* | 96,260 |
Download table data for ‘By ethnicity’ (CSV) Source data for ‘By ethnicity’ (CSV)
Summary of Civil Service workforce By ethnicity Summary
The data shows that, where civil servants’ ethnicity was known:
- 87.3% were from the White ethnic group
- 6.6% of staff were Asian, 3.4% were Black, 1.8% had Mixed ethnicity, 0.6% were from the Other ethnic group, and 0.3% were from the Chinese ethnic group
3. By ethnicity over time
| 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ethnicity | 2015 % | 2015 Headcount | 2016 % | 2016 Headcount | 2017 % | 2017 Headcount | 2018 % | 2018 Headcount | 2019 % | 2019 Headcount |
| Asian | 5.4 | 18,560 | 5.8 | 18,690 | 6.2 | 19,780 | 6.4 | 20,470 | 6.6 | 23,190 |
| Black | 3.0 | 10,210 | 3.1 | 9,950 | 3.2 | 10,230 | 3.2 | 10,350 | 3.4 | 11,990 |
| Chinese | 0.3 | 890 | 0.3 | 880 | 0.3 | 910 | 0.3 | 960 | 0.3 | 1,080 |
| Mixed | 1.3 | 4,410 | 1.4 | 4,460 | 1.5 | 4,740 | 1.5 | 4,950 | 1.8 | 6,140 |
| White | 89.4 | 305,550 | 88.8 | 284,140 | 88.4 | 283,740 | 88.0 | 283,300 | 87.3 | 304,850 |
| Other | 0.6 | 2,040 | 0.5 | 1,710 | 0.5 | 1,750 | 0.5 | 1,740 | 0.6 | 1,980 |
| Unknown | N/A* | 97,670 | N/A* | 98,510 | N/A* | 98,250 | N/A* | 108,310 | N/A* | 96,260 |
Download table data for ‘By ethnicity over time’ (CSV) Source data for ‘By ethnicity over time’ (CSV)
Summary of Civil Service workforce By ethnicity over time Summary
The data shows that, where ethnicity was known:
- between 2015 and 2019, there was an increase in the number and percentage of civil servants from the Asian, Black and Mixed ethnic groups
- there was no change in the percentage of civil servants from the Chinese and Other ethnic groups
- the total percentage of civil servants from ethnic minorities (excluding White minorities) went up from 10.6% to 12.7%
- the Asian ethnic group saw the biggest increase, from 5.4% to 6.6% of civil servants (an increase of around 4,630 staff)
- between 2015 and 2019, the percentage of civil servants from the White ethnic group went down from 89.4% to 87.3% (a decrease of around 700 staff)
4. By ethnicity and grade
| Asian | Black | Chinese | Mixed | White | Other | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade | Asian % | Asian Headcount | Black % | Black Headcount | Chinese % | Chinese Headcount | Mixed % | Mixed Headcount | White % | White Headcount | Other % | Other Headcount |
| Administrative officers and assistants | 7.0 | 7,560 | 3.4 | 3,700 | 0.3 | 290 | 1.5 | 1,590 | 87.4 | 94,840 | 0.5 | 540 |
| Executive officer | 7.8 | 7,280 | 4.2 | 3,910 | 0.3 | 250 | 1.6 | 1,520 | 85.5 | 79,440 | 0.6 | 530 |
| Senior and higher executive officer | 6.1 | 5,580 | 3.1 | 2,860 | 0.4 | 350 | 1.9 | 1,740 | 87.9 | 80,310 | 0.6 | 550 |
| Grades 6 & 7 | 4.9 | 2,010 | 2.0 | 830 | 0.4 | 160 | 2.3 | 920 | 89.7 | 36,490 | 0.7 | 290 |
| Senior Civil Service Level | 4.2 | 210 | 1.3 | 70 | 0.3 | 20 | 1.7 | 90 | 91.9 | 4,550 | 0.5 | 20 |
| Unknown | N/A* | 540 | N/A* | 620 | N/A* | 20 | N/A* | 290 | N/A* | 9,230 | N/A* | 50 |
Download table data for ‘By ethnicity and grade’ (CSV) Source data for ‘By ethnicity and grade’ (CSV)
Summary of Civil Service workforce By ethnicity and grade Summary
The data shows that, where ethnicity was known:
- Asian staff made up 4.2% of civil servants at 'SCS Level' (the highest grade) and 7.0% of administrative officers and assistants (the most junior grade)
- Black staff made up 1.3% of civil servants at SCS Level and 3.4% of administrative officers and assistants
- staff with Mixed ethnicity made up 1.7% of civil servants at SCS Level and 1.5% of administrative officers and assistants
- White staff made up 91.9% of staff at SCS Level, and 87.4% of administrative officers and assistants
- out of all grades, executive officers (the second most junior grade) had the highest percentage of Asian (7.8%) and Black (4.2%) staff
5. By ethnicity and area
| Asian | Black | Chinese | Mixed | White | Other | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Region | Asian % | Asian Headcount | Black % | Black Headcount | Chinese % | Chinese Headcount | Mixed % | Mixed Headcount | White % | White Headcount | Other % | Other Headcount |
| All | 6.6 | 23,190 | 3.4 | 11,990 | 0.3 | 1,080 | 1.8 | 6,140 | 87.3 | 304,850 | 0.6 | 1,980 |
| North East | 1.2 | 270 | 0.4 | 90 | 0.2 | 40 | 0.7 | 160 | 97.4 | 22,740 | 0.2 | 40 |
| North West | 4.4 | 1,910 | 1.2 | 510 | 0.3 | 140 | 1.3 | 550 | 92.6 | 40,630 | 0.3 | 150 |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 6.6 | 1,820 | 1.4 | 390 | 0.2 | 50 | 1.2 | 340 | 90.2 | 24,690 | 0.3 | 90 |
| East Midlands | 8.9 | 1,390 | 2.4 | 380 | 0.1 | 20 | 1.6 | 250 | 86.6 | 13,560 | 0.3 | 50 |
| West Midlands | 14.6 | 3,240 | 4.2 | 930 | 0.2 | 40 | 1.7 | 390 | 78.8 | 17,550 | 0.5 | 110 |
| East | 4.9 | 830 | 2.4 | 400 | 0.3 | 40 | 1.5 | 250 | 90.4 | 15,460 | 0.6 | 110 |
| London | 16.3 | 11,220 | 11.6 | 7,970 | 0.7 | 490 | 3.7 | 2,530 | 66.4 | 45,700 | 1.3 | 890 |
| South East | 3.4 | 1,040 | 1.8 | 560 | 0.3 | 90 | 1.6 | 490 | 92.4 | 28,420 | 0.5 | 160 |
| South West | 1.7 | 540 | 1.2 | 380 | 0.1 | 50 | 1.3 | 410 | 95.3 | 30,550 | 0.4 | 140 |
| Wales | 1.1 | 310 | 0.5 | 150 | 0.2 | 50 | 1.5 | 420 | 96.3 | 27,010 | 0.3 | 90 |
| Scotland | 1.2 | 400 | 0.5 | 150 | 0.1 | 40 | 0.6 | 200 | 97.2 | 31,790 | 0.4 | 120 |
| Northern Ireland | 0.2 | 10 | withheld to protect confidentiality | withheld to protect confidentiality | withheld to protect confidentiality | withheld to protect confidentiality | 0.6 | 20 | 98.9 | 3,040 | 0.2 | 10 |
| Unknown | N/A* | 60 | N/A* | 10 | N/A* | not collected | N/A* | 20 | N/A* | 840 | N/A* | withheld to protect confidentiality |
Download table data for ‘By ethnicity and area’ (CSV) Source data for ‘By ethnicity and area’ (CSV)
Summary of Civil Service workforce By ethnicity and area Summary
- out of all regions, London had the highest percentage of civil servants from the Asian (16.3%), Black (11.6%), Mixed (3.7%), Chinese (0.7%) and Other ethnic groups (1.3%)
- by comparison, 19.3% of working age people in London described themselves as Asian, 12.6% Black, 3.9% Mixed, 1.8% Chinese and 3.6% from the Other ethnic group in the 2011 Census
- in the North East, 2.6% of civil servants were from the Asian, Black, Mixed and Other ethnic groups combined (the lowest percentage out of all regions), compared with 4.9% of the North East working age population
- 2.8% of civil servants in Scotland and 3.7% in Wales were from the Asian, Black, Mixed and Other ethnic groups combined, compared with 4.3% of the Scottish and 4.7% of the Welsh working age populations
- the areas with the highest percentage of Asian civil servants were London (16.3%), the West Midlands (14.6%) and the East Midlands (8.9%)
- the areas with the highest percentage of Black civil servants were London (11.6%) and the West Midlands (4.2%)
6. By ethnicity and gender
| Male | Female | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ethnicity | Male % | Male Headcount | Female % | Female Headcount |
| Asian | 6.4 | 9,940 | 6.8 | 13,250 |
| Black | 2.8 | 4,320 | 4.0 | 7,660 |
| Chinese | 0.3 | 460 | 0.3 | 620 |
| Mixed | 1.7 | 2,660 | 1.8 | 3,490 |
| White | 88.3 | 137,530 | 86.5 | 167,320 |
| Other | 0.6 | 900 | 0.6 | 1,080 |
| Unknown | N/A* | 49,510 | N/A* | 46,740 |
Download table data for ‘By ethnicity and gender’ (CSV) Source data for ‘By ethnicity and gender’ (CSV)
Summary of Civil Service workforce By ethnicity and gender Summary
The data shows that, where ethnicity was known:
- 88.3% of men and 86.5% of women working in the Civil Service were White (a difference of 1.8 percentage points)
- 4.0% of women and 2.8% of men working in the Civil Service were Black (a difference of 1.2 percentage points)
7. By ethnicity and age group
| Asian | Black | Chinese | Mixed | White | Other | Unknown | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ethnicity | Asian % | Asian Headcount | Black % | Black Headcount | Chinese % | Chinese Headcount | Mixed % | Mixed Headcount | White % | White Headcount | Other % | Other Headcount | Unknown % | Unknown Headcount |
| Aged 16-19 | 6.9 | 60 | 1.2 | 10 | withheld to protect confidentiality | withheld to protect confidentiality | 3.0 | 30 | 88.5 | 790 | withheld to protect confidentiality | withheld to protect confidentiality | N/A* | 690 |
| Aged 20-29 | 9.8 | 4,040 | 3.2 | 1,290 | 0.5 | 190 | 3.3 | 1,350 | 82.6 | 33,840 | 0.7 | 270 | N/A* | 21,570 |
| Aged 30-39 | 8.8 | 6,460 | 3.1 | 2,260 | 0.4 | 300 | 2.4 | 1,750 | 84.6 | 61,900 | 0.6 | 480 | N/A* | 22,110 |
| Aged 40-49 | 7.3 | 6,360 | 3.4 | 2,950 | 0.3 | 290 | 1.6 | 1,410 | 86.8 | 75,560 | 0.6 | 490 | N/A* | 20,000 |
| Aged 50-59 | 4.1 | 4,610 | 4.0 | 4,560 | 0.2 | 220 | 1.1 | 1,300 | 90.1 | 102,130 | 0.5 | 560 | N/A* | 24,440 |
| Aged 60-64 | 4.3 | 1,160 | 2.7 | 730 | 0.2 | 60 | 0.9 | 250 | 91.3 | 24,440 | 0.5 | 140 | N/A* | 5,520 |
| Aged 65 & Over | 7.1 | 490 | 2.6 | 180 | 0.3 | 20 | 0.9 | 60 | 88.5 | 6,180 | 0.7 | 50 | N/A* | 1,620 |
Download table data for ‘By ethnicity and age group’ (CSV) Source data for ‘By ethnicity and age group’ (CSV)
Summary of Civil Service workforce By ethnicity and age group Summary
The data shows that, where ethnicity was known:
- 91.3% of civil servants aged 60 to 64 years were White (the highest percentage of White staff in any age group)
- the percentage of civil servants who were White got smaller with each younger age, down to 82.6% of 20 to 29 year olds (the lowest percentage)
- the exception was among 16 to 19 year olds, where 88.5% of civil servants were White
- the age group with the highest percentage of Asian staff was 20 to 29 year olds (9.8%)
- the age group with the highest percentage of Black staff was 50 to 59 year olds (4.0%)
8. Methodology
All Civil Service departments are asked for details of employees on their payroll on a certain date in the year (currently 31st March). They include any employee with an employment contract who is being paid as a civil servant. Employees can be permanent, on a fixed-term contract or employed on a casual basis.
They are also asked to given information about staff who left the Civil Service in the last 12 months.
Data isn't weighted as it includes all Civil Service employees.
Civil Services grades from senior to junior are:
- Senior Civil Service (SCS) Level
- grades 6 and 7
- higher and senior executive officers
- executive officers
- administrative officers and assistants
Departments use different ways of grading staff, including numbers, pay bands and descriptions. As a result, this data uses broad 'responsibility levels' to group jobs based on their pay and weight.
Suppression rules and disclosure control
Values based on fewer than 5 responses have not been included in the data, both:
- to protect people’s confidentiality
- because the numbers are too small to draw any reliable conclusions
Rounding
Total staff numbers are rounded to the nearest 10.
Quality and methodology information
9. Data sources
Source
Annual Civil Service Employment Survey 2022
Type of data
Administrative data
Type of statistic
National Statistics
Publisher
Cabinet Office
Publication frequency
Yearly
Purpose of data source
The Annual Civil Service Employment Survey (ACSES) measures the number of civil servants and diversity across the workforce.