Despite being home to national Government and the civil service, the public sector is a smaller part of the economy in London than in other regions of the UK. The public sector, however, is very important for London as it employs a large proportion of London’s workforce and has enormous spending capacity and influence on the local economy. The Institute of Local Government Studies at the University of Birmingham conducted an independent study into the scope for relocating a substantial number of public sector activities from London and the South East of England to other parts of the United Kingdom. It identified some 20,000 jobs that could move out of London and the South East. The study recommends that relocation plans should be urgently taken forward. A further 7,000 posts would no longer be required as a result of efficiencies.

Source: London Development Agency 2003 and Lyons 2000

Employment will decrease by about 6% over the next ten years. Clerical posts are expected to increase whilst higher-level occupations are expected to decrease in Yorkshire and the Humber region. Local authorities in York and Craven report skill gaps and recruitment/ retention difficulties.

In North Yorkshire, almost 8,000 people are employed in over 250 organisations. This represents 2.4% of all jobs in the North Yorkshire area (compared to 4.8% nationally). Clerical and administrative posts make up a high proportion of the job opportunities in the sector. Associate professional and unskilled jobs are also important.  In North Yorkshire local authorities report recruitment/ retention difficulties for occupations in:

• professional managerial staff (such as experienced solicitors and conveyancers, experienced accountants Trading Standards Officers, engineers, a variety of social services posts, personnel officers and assistants and senior ESW staff
• technical jobs such as New Deal training co-ordinators and accounting technicians. administrative post
• craft/manual jobs such as care assistants, cooks, school crossing patrols and mid-day supervisory assistant

Source: LSC North Yorkshire 2002

Despite an initial decline in employment in the sector, employment in the North East has risen to 1,394 million in 1998.

Source: Tyne and Wear Research Information 2001

In the East Midlands, the proportion of employees in public administration (4.7%) is lower than in the overall workforce (5.3%). However, the public sector outweighs the private sector as a knowledge economy employer, with 55% in health, education, social work and public administration.

Sources: Felstead et al. 2002 and FRESA 2002

The National Assembly for Wales was established in 1998. It has two distinct areas, each with its own responsibilities:

• The Welsh Assembly is concerned with economic development, health, education, social services, health, education, social services, local government, agriculture, housing, transport, the environment and European affairs. Although Welsh Assembly staff work all over Wales, the majority of the 3,500 staff work in Cardiff.
• The Wales Office represents the UK government in Wales and represents Wales within the UK government. It deals with a wide range of domestic issues, such as health, social services, agriculture, environment, industry and transport. Staff are mainly based in London with a small office in Cardiff. As the Wales Office does not recruit directly, staff are seconded from other departments temporarily.

Source: Prospects 2004

The Scottish parliament operates similarly to the UK government with certain legislative and policy-making responsibilities. It is responsible for most of the issues of day-to-day concern such as health, education and training, local government, social work and housing, economic development and transport, law and home affairs, the environment, agriculture, fisheries and forestry, sport and the arts. The Scottish Executive manages a budget of around £20 billion and around 7,000 staff.

The Scotland Office represents Scottish interest in matters reserved to the UK Parliament and promotes the devolution settlement for Scotland.

Source: Prospects 2004

   For further LMI on Scotland go to the Careers Scotland website.

Source: SSDA 2004. Based on the Labour Force Survey.

Further detailed information on the economic picture, the workforce, skill demands and skill imbalance is available on the SSDA Skillsmatrix website.