Overview of the public sector in the UK

The public sector employs around 5.6 million people and has opportunities across the UK. Find out more about working in the sector...

What areas of the public sector can I work in?

The majority of jobs in the public sector will fall under the responsibility of one of the major government departments:

• Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) - environmental and product safety, innovation and skills (including higher education) and consumer protection.
• Department of Culture, Media and Sport - monuments and statues, gambling and licensing, and major sporting events.
• Department of Energy and Climate Change - energy efficiency and radioactive contamination.
• Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs - sites of specific interest, pollution, food safety, animal care, and pest control.
• Department for Education - safeguarding children, the curriculum, teacher training, adoption and fostering.
• Department of Health - healthcare trusts, controlled drugs, community care and care of persons with a disability.
• Department of Transport - rail and waterways, highways, public transport, Transport for London, and traffic management.
• Department of Work and Pensions - child support, benefits, social security, explosions and hazards.
• Food Standards Agency - fish sustainability, hygiene, and food labelling.
• HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) - income tax, money laundering, and value-added tax (VAT).
• Home Office - immigration and border control, police, and national security.
• Ministry of Justice - data protection, marriage and civil partnership, youth offending, and the coroner's office.

For examples of job roles, see graduate jobs in the public sector.

Who are the main graduate employers?

Central government departments, such as those listed above, are major employers in the public sector. In addition, executive agencies are part of the sector and deliver services on behalf of departments. For example, Jobcentre Plus is an agency managed by the Department of Work and Pensions.

Non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) work independently of government departments but are accountable to ministers. Employees of NDPBs are not normally civil servants, and their role may be executive, for example the Student Loans Company, or advisory, such as the Council for Science and Technology.

You can also work in local government, which is responsible for issues such as housing, planning, leisure services and refuse collection. It works closely with central government departments on major issues including education and social services.

There is also the Welsh Assembly government, the Scottish government and the Northern Ireland Assembly. Devolved UK governments work closely with the UK central government but also have direct jurisdiction over major issues such as education, health and the environment.

The armed forces and emergency services are also major employers in the public sector.

What's it like working in the sector?

The range of work is diverse and working conditions reflect this. It is possible to work a typical 9am to 5pm day in a desk-based role, while it is also possible to be working outdoors, do irregular, unsociable hours or make frequent journeys within the UK and beyond. 

Graduates entering the public sector can expect starting salaries to vary depending on the job role and department, for example:

• environmental health officers in local government usually earn £24,700 - £35,400;
• qualified youth offending team officers in local government can expect to earn £20,500 - £29,000;
• starting graduate salaries for the Civil Service Fast Stream are between £25,000 - £27,000, with the potential to rise to around £45,000 after five years.

What are the key issues in the public sector?

The public sector has historically been recognised as offering extensive training, good equal opportunities policies and great benefits and pensions. However, public sector cutbacks have led to a reduction in the number of roles available and the removal of some work-related benefits.

The Autumn Statement in November 2011 set out plans for an average of a 1% pay increase for two years. This followed the pay freeze that was placed on public sector workers for two years from June 2010. This was set for all public sector staff paid the full-time equivalent of more than £21,000 a year.