The justice sector, as defined by Skills for Justice, employs approximately 559,800 of which 88% work full-time.  Only 1% of workers are self-employed and 97% of the workforce are on permanent contracts.  In addition, there are an estimated 12,500 voluntary organisations working in the sector, but there is no estimate of the number of volunteers.  66% of organisations in the sector report using volunteers mainly to provide support to justice professionals.

Although there are contradictory forecasts on employment levels in the sector over the next ten years, Skills for Justice expects employment levels to increase.  Employment levels are forecast to increase to 572,400 by 2014, expanding by 12,600 workers.  The sector workforce will increase particularly in the police and law enforcement by a further 8,000 jobs and community justice by a further 4,200.  More recent forecasts suggest a slight decline in employment levels.

In the short term, there will be an increase in employment especially for professional staff, support staff for professionals and administrative and secretarial staff, particularly in the community justice sub-sector.  The largest replacement demands (created by people retiring or changing jobs) are in the following occupational roles:

• police 
• community justice
• administration and secretarial
• associate professional and technical

Source: Working Futures 2006 and UK Skill Needs Assessment 2006

For data on employment levels and trends or employment status of the sector workforce see:

Employment levels and change in the sector, 1994-2014

Employment status of Skills for Justice workforce, 1984-2014

Employment by organisation type and sub-sector, 2004