Public sector headcount
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WQ.423/2025
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE CHAIR OF THE STATES EMPLOYMENT BOARD
BY DEPUTY M.B. ANDREWS OF ST HELIER NORTH
QUESTION SUBMITTED ON MONDAY 10th NOVEMBER 2025
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON MONDAY 17th NOVEMBER 2025
Question
"Will the Chair state the public sector headcount at the time the States Employment Board (SEB) reconstituted in 2024 and the headcount to date; and will he advise what evidence, if any, he has to demonstrate whether the actions taken by the SEB have influenced curbing public sector growth?"
Answer
Public Sector* | Jan-24 | Oct-25 | Change |
Cabinet Office | 213 | 165 | -48 |
Children, Young People, Education & Skills | 2,763 | 2,954 | 191 |
Department for the Economy | 80 | 75 | -5 |
Department of External Relations | 13 | 16 | 3 |
Digital Services | 204 | 185 | -19 |
Employment, Social Security and Housing | 292 | 288 | -4 |
Health and Care Jersey | 2,662 | 2,944 | 282 |
Infrastructure and Environment | 698 | 729 | 31 |
Justice and Home Affairs | 711 | 732 | 21 |
Non-executives and legislature | 284 | 320 | 36 |
Bailiff 's Chambers | 11 | 18 | 7 |
Estab. of H.E. Lt. Governor | 14 | 13 | -1 |
Judicial Greffe | 50 | 55 | 5 |
Law Officers' Department | 92 | 102 | 10 |
Probation Service | 37 | 36 | -1 |
States Greffe | 54 | 64 | 10 |
Viscount's Department | 26 | 32 | 6 |
People Services | 162 | 135 | -27 |
Treasury and Exchequer | 362 | 383 | 21 |
Total* | 8,425 | 8,903 | 478 |
We have increased permanent staffing in health and education, improved service delivery and reduced reliance on temporary resources. By prioritising permanent staffing, we have reduced consultancy and agency spend, which has achieved £29 million in savings.
The recruitment freeze, introduced in August 2024, prevented an additional projected increase of 325 roles, avoiding £23 million in extra costs.
The recruitment freeze demonstrates the effectiveness of the States Employment Board's early intervention in balancing service needs with financial responsibility. This approach has delivered measurable financial benefits in non-front-line services to maintain and strengthen frontline services.
*Note:
• Departmental figures count the employee once for each department they work in.
• Total only counts the employee once, regardless of how many departments they work in.