Biggest growth in staff numbers in Jersey's public sector

Tuesday 26 March 2024

Growth in Jersey's public sector is continuing to outstrip other industries, with new data showing how government's team swelled to more than 9,000 with nearly 400 new employees within just 12 months.

The figures were published in the latest report on employment statistics published by Statistics Jersey which featured data from June 2022 to June 2023.

The public sector saw the largest increase in employees of all sectors measured during this time period, with an increase of 370 employees.

This means there are now a total of 9,010 islanders employed in the public sector.

Of these, 8,910 work full-time, 70 work part-time, and 30 are on zero-hour contracts.

The public sector includes Government and Parish employees – including teachers and Health staff – as well as those employed in car parks, fleet management, and agencies such as Jersey Office of the Information Commissioner and the Jersey Gambling Commission.

Employment in the public sector accounts for 16% of Jersey's total employment, according to the report.

The number of people employed in the public sector differed by gender – representing 21% of employment for women, and 16% of employment for men.

Of those employed in the public sector, a total of 64% are women.

The gender difference was highest for people aged between 40 and 59.

In the 40-44 age group, women made up 780 of the total of 1,210 employees.

For 45-49-year-olds, women made up 810 of the 1,210 employees.

In the 50-54 age group, 800 out of 1,270 people were women, and in the 54-59 age group, 770 of 1,270 staff were women.

In addition, the data showed that the public sector employs few young people – with just 50 employees aged between 16 and 19, and 310 aged between 20 and 24.