Civil Service staff numbers on the rise

THE UK Civil Service workforce grew by 3,000 between June and September and is at its highest level for nearly two decades, new figures show.

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An estimated 554,000 people were employed in the Civil Service as of September 2025, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). This is up from 551,000 in June and a year on year rise of 1.1% from 548,000 in September 2024.

Headcount fell as low as 416,000 in June 2016, the month of the EU referendum.

Since that date, the total has risen steadily, driven chiefly by the impact of Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic, with growth continuing in more recent years.