NOTE: The original version of this press release stated that the top three grade levels receive between £73,000 and £208,100. This has now been corrected.
Embargoed: 00:01 Wednesday 9th August 2023
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Between March 2016 and March 2023 civil service employment increased from 418,340 to 519,780, a jump of 101,440 or 24.2 per cent – the sharpest increase in at least 50 years.
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The annual salary bill for full-time staff has increased by 60 per cent from March 2016 to March 2023, rising from £9.7 billion to £15.5 billion.
- The largest increase has been in London with an additional 25,505 posts, a growth of 33 per cent.
Today, the TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA) reveals that the number of civil servants increased by more than 101,000 between 2016 and 2023, a jump of 24 per cent and the largest increase in at least half a century.
The figures come as it was revealed that health secretary Steve Barclay has axed one in six civil servants in the Department of Health and Social Care. Despite reports of a war on waste in that department, the increase in civil service employment between March 2016 and March 2023 is greater than the entire regular forces of the British Army.
Meanwhile, the annual salary bill for full-time staff increased by 60 per cent and the median average civil service salary increased by 26 per cent.
While covid, rather than Brexit, was the main driver of civil service headcounts increasing, the further growth since March 2022 shows that numbers are not falling following the end of mass testing and covid emergency measures.
The expansion has been top-heavy, with 87 per cent of the increase being accounted for by growth in the top three grade levels. There was an actual decrease in the lowest – and previously most numerous – grade level.
Grade inflation and pay awards nearly tripled the number of civil servants being paid over £75,000 a year, from 4,470 to 12,045. In addition, 2,050 were paid more than £100,000 and 195 more than £150,000.
The TPA has also found that, despite successive governments attempting to shift civil service employment out of London, the largest increase has been in London with an additional 25,505 posts, a growth of 33 per cent.
The overall civil service staffing structure has been tilted away from frontline services and towards policy and support functions. Operational delivery – frontline services– fell from 56 per cent of total staff to 52 per cent.
The TPA has called for ministers to cut civil servant numbers to rein in the rising cost of government.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE RESEARCH
Key findings:
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Between March 2016 and March 2023 civil service employment increased from 418,340 to 519,780, a jump of 101,440 or 24.2 per cent – the sharpest increase in at least 50 years. This is greater than the entire regular forces of the British Army, which were only 83,209 in October 2022.
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The annual salary bill for full-time staff has increased by 59.8 per cent from March 2016 to March 2023, rising from £9.7 billion to £15.5 billion.
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The median average civil service salary increased by 26 per cent over the period.
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The expansion has been top-heavy, with 87 per cent of the increase being accounted for by growth in the top three grade levels. There was an actual decrease in the lowest – and previously most numerous – grade level.
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Grade inflation and pay awards nearly tripled the number of civil servants being paid over £75,000 a year, from 4,470 to 12,045. In addition, 2,050 were paid more than £100,000 and 195 more than £150,000.
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The largest increase has been in London with an additional 25,505 posts, a growth of 33 per cent.
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The overall staffing structure has been tilted away from operational delivery and towards policy and support functions. Operational delivery – frontline services– fell from 56 per cent of total staff to 52 per cent.
- It is estimated that the combined effect of higher staff numbers, grade inflation, and pay awards increased the total annual civil service salary bill to £17.8 billion between March 2016 to March 2023, a rise of 54.8 per cent. This is almost double the growth rate of nominal GDP over the same period.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE RESEARCH
John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said:
"With the tax burden at near-record levels, taxpayers are paying through the nose for the boom in public sector employment.
“What’s more, there is a growing sense that public services are worse than before the hiring spree, not better.
“Only once politicians start to be honest about what the state can reasonably be expected to do can we wind down functions and scrap unnecessary jobs."
TPA spokespeople are available for live and pre-recorded broadcast interviews via 07795 084 113 (no texts)
Media contact:
Conor Holohan
Media Campaign Manager, TaxPayers' Alliance
[email protected]
24-hour media hotline: 07795 084 113 (no texts)
Notes to editors:
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Founded in 2004 by Matthew Elliott and Andrew Allum, the TaxPayers' Alliance (TPA) campaigns to reform taxes and public services, cut waste and speak up for British taxpayers. Find out more at www.taxpayersalliance.com.
- TaxPayers' Alliance's advisory council.