Did you see the latest annual statistical bulletin on the Civil Service? In particular, how your department compared with others? Which departments had the greatest headcount increases? Which departments were most successful in moving jobs out of London to Places for Growth?
We have created a concise summary below .
Change in FTEs 2024 v 2023: Excluding machinery of government changes, at 33% the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets had the highest % increase in Full Time Employees, while the Home Office had the largest absolute increase at 7,770 a 19% increase compared to the Civil Service average of 5%. Meanwhile HMRC had the biggest decrease -2,645 or 4%. Full details can be found in Table 1 below.
Attrition 2024: Excluding machinery of government changes, at 27% the UK Supreme Court suffered the highest percent attrition, while Health & Social Care, MoJ and MoD were all above the Civil Service average (8%) and had some of the most significant numbers of leavers at 1,350, 9,645, and 5,090 respectively. 13 departments achieved stronger retention than the Civil Service average – most notably in absolute terms being DWP, Home Office, Scottish Government, FCDO and Welsh Government. Full details can be found in Table 2</> below.
Increases in Ethnic Minority Employment: The number of ethnic minority employees increased 6,840 or 1.3% across the whole Civil Service. 13 departments increased the % of ethnic minorities by more than 1.3%. The Office of Gas and Electricity Markets stands out for its 11.6% increase. In absolute numbers the biggest increase in ethnic minorities were at DWP, MoJ, Health and Social Care, and DEFRA. Ethnic minority employees increased almost by 5,000 employees at these five departments alone. Only four departments saw a decrease in ethnic minorities. See Table 3</> for more details.
The Quality of Reporting on Ethnic Minorities: The ethnicity of every new joiner or leaver is not captured. Across the Civil Service 69% of new joiners provide information (including 2% who would prefer not to say). Which departments are doing the best job at collecting accurate information on ethnicity? 100% of new joiners provide information at eight departments – of which most notable in absolute terms are HM Treasury and the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets. NCA, DWP and Education are also notable in absolute terms and all collect information from more than 90% of new joiners. Seven departments collected information from less than 50% of new joiners. See Table 4 for more details.
Place for Growth 2024: Across the whole Civil Service, the share of headcount in London decreased 0.3%, as result of London headcount increasing 2.8% versus a total headcount increase of 4.4%. 19 departments shifted a higher share of jobs outside London and six departments actually reduced headcount in London while increasing headcount elsewhere – most notably (in terms of absolute numbers) being the Cabinet Office, Health & Social Care and the Department for Transport (between them reducing London headcount by 750 while increasing headcount outside London by 1750). Six departments increased their share of headcount in London. See Table 5 for further details.
On 20 August the Office for National Statistics published its annual statistical bulletin on the Civil Service – Civil Service Statistics: 2024 the full report. A good high level summary can be found here CSW and here ONS (along with the actual bulletin).
Table 1: Change in FTEs 2024 v 2023
| Civil Service parent department | FTE Increase
2024 v 2023 |
FTE Increase
as % 2023 FTEs |
| Office of Gas and Electricity Markets | 500 | 33% |
| Water Services Regulation Authority | 65 | 25% |
| Home Office | 7,770 | 19% |
| Competition and Markets Authority | 165 | 19% |
| Estyn | 15 | 13% |
| Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities | 520 | 13% |
| Office of the Secretary of State for Wales | 5 | 11% |
| Northern Ireland Office | 15 | 9% |
| UK Supreme Court | 5 | 9% |
| Department for Work and Pensions | 5,955 | 8% |
| Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office | 635 | 7% |
| Chancellor’s other departments | 25 | 6% |
| Cabinet Office | 505 | 5% |
| Attorney General’s Departments | 505 | 5% |
| Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | 605 | 5% |
| UK Export Finance | 25 | 5% |
| Ministry of Justice | 3,835 | 4% |
| HM Land Registry | 235 | 4% |
| National Crime Agency | 170 | 3% |
| Office of Rail and Road | 10 | 3% |
| Department of Health and Social Care | 240 | 2% |
| Ministry of Defence | 1,225 | 2% |
| Scottish Government | 460 | 2% |
| Department for Transport | 250 | 2% |
| Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation | 5 | 1% |
| Department for Education | 105 | 1% |
| Welsh Government | 50 | 1% |
| Food Standards Agency | 5 | 0% |
| HM Treasury | 5 | 0% |
| Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland | 0 | 0% |
| Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills | -45 | -2% |
| The National Archives | -20 | -4% |
| HM Revenue and Customs | -2,645 | -4% |
| Charity Commission | -30 | -6% |
| UK Statistics Authority | -460 | -8% |
Table 2: Attrition (2024 Leavers)
| Civil Service parent department | Leavers as % of 2023 headcount | Headcount of all leavers from the Civil Service | Excess leavers compared to the Civil Service Average |
| UK Supreme Court | 27% | 15 | 11 |
| Office of Gas and Electricity Markets | 14% | 225 | 107 |
| Department of Health and Social Care | 13% | 1,350 | 568 |
| The National Archives | 13% | 75 | 30 |
| Competition and Markets Authority | 12% | 110 | 41 |
| Estyn | 12% | 15 | 5 |
| Water Services Regulation Authority | 11% | 30 | 10 |
| Office of the Secretary of State for Wales | 11% | 5 | 2 |
| Ministry of Justice | 10% | 9,645 | 2648 |
| Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills | 10% | 210 | 55 |
| Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation | 10% | 35 | 9 |
| Charity Commission | 10% | 50 | 12 |
| UK Export Finance | 10% | 50 | 10 |
| HM Treasury | 10% | 260 | 54 |
| UK Statistics Authority | 10% | 585 | 118 |
| Office of Rail and Road | 9% | 35 | 7 |
| Chancellor’s other departments | 9% | 40 | 8 |
| Northern Ireland Office | 9% | 15 | 2 |
| Ministry of Defence | 9% | 5,090 | 659 |
| Department for Transport | 9% | 1,420 | 172 |
| Department for Culture, Media and Sport | 9% | 165 | 17 |
| Department for Education | 8% | 670 | 24 |
| Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | 8% | 1,000 | 5 |
| Attorney General’s Departments | 7% | 790 | -27 |
| Cabinet Office | 7% | 745 | -33 |
| Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities | 7% | 285 | -33 |
| Food Standards Agency | 7% | 105 | -15 |
| Department for Work and Pensions | 7% | 5,780 | -904 |
| National Crime Agency | 6% | 335 | -89 |
| Home Office | 6% | 2,550 | -734 |
| Scottish Government | 6% | 1,620 | -484 |
| HM Revenue and Customs | 6% | 4,000 | -1512 |
| HM Land Registry | 5% | 325 | -186 |
| Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office | 5% | 400 | -270 |
| Welsh Government | 4% | 250 | -211 |
| Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland | 4% | 5 | -5 |
| Overall Civil Service | 8% | 39,585 | 0 |
Table 3: Ethnic Minority Employment (Headcount Changes 2024 v 2023)
| Civil Service parent department | Increase in the number of ethnic minority employees
(Difference in the number of declared ethnic minority new joiners less leavers) |
Increase in the % of ethnic minority employees
(Difference in the number of declared ethnic minority new joiners less leavers as % 2023 headcount) |
| Office of Gas and Electricity Markets | 180 | 11.6% |
| Water Services Regulation Authority | 15 | 5.7% |
| Department for Work and Pensions | 3,045 | 3.5% |
| Competition and Markets Authority | 25 | 2.7% |
| Department of Health and Social Care | 235 | 2.3% |
| UK Export Finance | 10 | 1.9% |
| Cabinet Office | 185 | 1.8% |
| Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | 215 | 1.6% |
| Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities | 65 | 1.6% |
| Ministry of Justice | 1,395 | 1.5% |
| Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation | 5 | 1.4% |
| Attorney General’s Departments | 155 | 1.4% |
| Office of Rail and Road | 5 | 1.4% |
| Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills | 25 | 1.2% |
| Chancellor’s other departments | 5 | 1.2% |
| HM Treasury | 30 | 1.1% |
| Home Office | 400 | 0.9% |
| Department for Transport | 145 | 0.9% |
| Department for Education | 70 | 0.8% |
| National Crime Agency | 35 | 0.6% |
| Department for Culture, Media and Sport | 10 | 0.5% |
| UK Statistics Authority | 20 | 0.3% |
| HM Revenue and Customs | 220 | 0.3% |
| HM Land Registry | 20 | 0.3% |
| Ministry of Defence | 140 | 0.2% |
| Scottish Government | 10 | 0.0% |
| The National Archives | 0 | 0.0% |
| Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland | 0 | 0.0% |
| Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy | -10 | -0.1% |
| Department for International Trade | -5 | -0.1% |
| Welsh Government | -10 | -0.2% |
| Food Standards Agency | -5 | -0.3% |
| Department for Business and Trade | 150 | |
| Department for Energy Security and Net Zero | 20 | |
| Department for Science, Innovation and Technology | 65 | |
| Overall Civil Service | 6,840 | 1.3% |
Table 4: The Quality of Ethnic Minority Reporting (New joiners making an active ethnic minority declaration)
| Civil Service parent department | % of new joiners making an active declaration | Headcount of all entrant making an active declaration1 |
| Estyn | 100% | 25 |
| Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office | 100% | 10 |
| HM Treasury | 100% | 290 |
| Office of Gas and Electricity Markets | 100% | 630 |
| Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation | 100% | 60 |
| Office of Rail and Road | 100% | 50 |
| UK Export Finance | 100% | 75 |
| Water Services Regulation Authority | 100% | 95 |
| National Crime Agency | 95% | 435 |
| Department for Work and Pensions | 94% | 11,240 |
| Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills | 93% | 195 |
| Attorney General’s Departments | 90% | 1,090 |
| Department for Education | 90% | 690 |
| UK Statistics Authority | 88% | 335 |
| Department for Culture, Media and Sport | 85% | 195 |
| Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | 82% | 1,785 |
| Cabinet Office | 77% | 1,220 |
| Ministry of Justice | 75% | 10,535 |
| The National Archives | 72% | 65 |
| HM Revenue and Customs | 71% | 2,160 |
| Department of Health and Social Care | 71% | 1,195 |
| Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy | 69% | 170 |
| Department for Transport | 69% | 1,330 |
| Department for Energy Security and Net Zero | 64% | 285 |
| Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities | 64% | 405 |
| Department for Science, Innovation and Technology | 62% | 470 |
| Ministry of Defence | 60% | 3,770 |
| Charity Commission | 57% | 20 |
| Food Standards Agency | 57% | 65 |
| Department for Business and Trade | 53% | 640 |
| Department for International Trade | 45% | 65 |
| HM Land Registry | 43% | 200 |
| Welsh Government | 34% | 90 |
| Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland | 33% | 5 |
| Home Office | 32% | 2,930 |
| Scottish Government | 30% | 670 |
| Northern Ireland Office | 0% | 0 |
| Overall Civil Service | 69% | 43,830 |
- Calculated from total new joiners less new joiners who have not made an active declaration about their ethnicity
Table 5: Place for Growth (Total and London Headcount Changes 2024 v 2023)
| Civil Service parent department | Headcount growth in London 2024 v 2023 | Headcount growth 2024 v 2023 | Share of Headcount in London 2024 v 2023 |
Change in Headcount in London 2024 v 2023 |
Change in Headcount 2024 v 2023 |
| Northern Ireland Office | -5.6% | 12.1% | -8.6% | -5 | 20 |
| Competition and Markets Authority | 8.2% | 18.1% | -7.4% | 65 | 165 |
| Office of Rail and Road | -7.1% | 2.7% | -5.4% | -15 | 10 |
| Department for Culture, Media and Sport | -52.7% | -49.7% | -5.0% | -865 | -965 |
| Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities | 2.5% | 12.8% | -4.8% | 55 | 535 |
| Office of the Secretary of State for Wales | 0.0% | 11.1% | -4.4% | 0 | 5 |
| Cabinet Office | -3.0% | 5.0% | -4.2% | -170 | 515 |
| HM Treasury | -4.0% | 0.2% | -3.3% | -85 | 5 |
| Home Office | 9.4% | 18.3% | -2.6% | 1,370 | 7,895 |
| Chancellor’s other departments | 2.9% | 5.9% | -2.4% | 10 | 25 |
| Department of Health and Social Care | -2.2% | 2.1% | -2.3% | -120 | 220 |
| Charity Commission | -18.8% | -6.0% | -2.2% | -15 | -30 |
| Food Standards Agency | -11.1% | 0.3% | -1.6% | -25 | 5 |
| Department for Transport | -4.6% | 1.6% | -1.3% | -155 | 265 |
| Department for Education | -1.9% | 1.4% | -0.9% | -45 | 115 |
| UK Export Finance | 5.1% | 5.8% | -0.6% | 25 | 30 |
| Ministry of Justice | 1.3% | 4.5% | -0.5% | 210 | 4,115 |
| UK Statistics Authority | -17.2% | -8.8% | -0.5% | -55 | -540 |
| Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills | -4.8% | -2.2% | -0.4% | -15 | -45 |
| Attorney General’s Departments | 4.5% | 4.9% | -0.2% | 215 | 530 |
| Office of Gas and Electricity Markets | 32.4% | 32.8% | -0.2% | 280 | 510 |
| Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | 4.3% | 4.9% | -0.1% | 115 | 645 |
| Department for Work and Pensions | 5.8% | 6.9% | -0.1% | 530 | 6,045 |
| HM Revenue and Customs | -4.4% | -3.8% | -0.1% | -450 | -2,725 |
| The National Archives | -3.4% | -3.4% | 0.0% | -20 | -20 |
| Welsh Government | 0.0% | 1.0% | 0.0% | 0 | 60 |
| Scottish Government | 0.0% | 1.8% | 0.0% | 0 | 485 |
| Estyn | 12.0% | 0.0% | 0 | 15 | |
| Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation | 2.9% | 0.0% | 0 | 10 | |
| UK Supreme Court | 9.1% | 9.1% | 0.0% | 5 | 5 |
| Ministry of Defence | 2.4% | 2.2% | 0.0% | 100 | 1,270 |
| HM Land Registry | 8.9% | 4.2% | 0.3% | 35 | 280 |
| Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office | 8.3% | 7.2% | 0.5% | 380 | 635 |
| Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland | 0.0% | -3.8% | 1.4% | 0 | -5 |
| Water Services Regulation Authority | 31.3% | 24.5% | 1.6% | 25 | 65 |
| National Crime Agency | 9.6% | 3.2% | 1.7% | 150 | 180 |
| Department for Business and Trade | 4,495 | 9,610 | |||
| Department for Energy Security and Net Zero | 3,195 | 4,360 | |||
| Department for Science, Innovation and Technology | 2,080 | 6,730 | |||
| Overall Civil Service | 2.8% | 4.4% | -0.3% | 2,885 | 23,060 |
