London: Public Sector Employment, 2012

An estimated 16.9% of people in employment in London worked in the public sector in September 2012. This is the third lowest proportion of the all the regions of the UK. London accounts for around 13% of public sector employment in the UK.

Total public sector employment in London rose by around 11% between March 2008 and December 2009 to around 820,000 and then fell by 10% to just over 740,000 in September 2012. Removing the impact of the reclassification of further education and sixth form colleges in England to the private sector in April 2012, public sector employment in London fell by 7% from a peak of just under 800,000.

Local government employment in London fell between 2008 and 2012 and was nearly 9% lower in September 2012 than in March 2008.

Central government employment increased between March 2008 and September 2012 by around 2%. When the impact of the reclassification of English colleges is removed, central government employment increased between 2008 and 2012 by nearly 9%. The increase in central government employment is due to schools in London becoming academies and thus transferring from local government to central government.