Civil Service Expansion Outpaces UK Economy Growth
The UK government has pledged to 'rewire' the state by transferring powers and resources away from Whitehall and towards regional and local governments. This shift aims to make central government smaller and more strategic, focusing on functions best performed at a national level.
Civil service headcount has increased by 139,485 between March 2016 and March 2026, reaching 557,825 or 33.3% higher than in 2016. The median civil servant salary rose by £2,140 (6%) between 2025 and 2026.
The number of civil servants with salaries above £100,000 has increased by 268.3% since 2016, from 1,090 to 4,015. As of March 2026, 150 civil servants received a salary of at least £175,000, including 50 drawing over £200,000.
London has the largest civil service headcount with 107,810, followed by the North West and Scotland. The North West saw the second-largest increase in its share of the civil service workforce, rising from 12.4% to 13.5% between March 2016 and March 2026.