UK job vacancies: public administration and defence
UK job vacancies: public administration and defence stood at 31 thousands in Jul 2026, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS). It is one of the indicators in the Labour market table (Value · Monthly), with a complete series running from May 2001 to Jul 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Labour market table
| Indicator | 07-2026 | 06-2026 | 05-2026 | 04-2026 | 03-2026 | 02-2026 | 01-2026 | 12-2025 | 11-2025 | 10-2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Job vacancies by industry | |||||||||||
| O Public administration and defence | 31 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 30 | |
| P Education | 44 | 45 | 46 | 49 | 49 | 48 | 47 | 50 | 51 | 50 |
Understanding UK job vacancies: public administration and defence
Job openings located within public administration and defence enterprises across the United Kingdom measure active recruitment for central government departments, local authorities, and armed forces civilian roles. This sector isolates core government administration, separating it from publicly funded education and health services. Positions enter the count when public sector bodies actively advertise vacancies for external applicants through official recruitment channels.
Evaluating this series requires watching for policy announcements, spending reviews, and budgetary shifts that can abruptly alter public sector recruitment caps. Initial estimates from government bodies are subject to administrative revisions as civil service HR databases are reconciled. Observers should rely on annual comparisons rather than monthly data to assess genuine shifts in public sector staffing capacity free from recruitment freezes.
Frequently asked questions
- Which entities are included in public administration and defence?
- Central government departments, local authorities, and civilian defence personnel are captured here.
- Does this series cover NHS or state school staff?
- No, health and education services are classified under separate industry headings.
- How do government spending reviews impact these figures?
- Policy changes and budgetary constraints can cause sudden shifts in public sector vacancy levels.