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Analysis of personnel statistics for the NICS

The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) today published an analysis of Personnel Statistics for the NICS based on Staff in Post at 1 April 2011.
~ Wednesday, 21 December 2011

This compendium report provides high level summary information on the human resource profiles of the NICS and how these profiles have changed over time. It contains analysis by Department, grade, age, gender, community background, disability and ethnicity as well as information on pay and sickness absence.

More detailed information on pay and sickness absence has recently been published in separate reports and links to these publications are provided within this report. This is the first annual Personnel Report to include information on the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Public Prosecution Service (PPS).

The key findings are as follows:

  • On 1 April 2011 there were 24,955 permanent NI Civil Servants (Full-time Equivalent, FTE). Of these, 23,874 (95.7%) were non-industrial staff and 1,081 (4.3%) were industrial staff.
  • Overall, there was a net increase of 1,796 (7.8%) in staff numbers (FTE) over the year to 1 April 2011. These increases can be attributed, in large part, to the inclusion of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Public Prosecution Service (PPS).
  • The Department for Social Development (DSD) was the largest Department in the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) with 6,853 staff (FTE). The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) was the smallest Department with 277 staff (FTE). Over the last financial year all departments in place at 1st April 2010 decreased in size with the exception of the Department for Employment and Learning (DEL).
  • Almost one third (31.3%) of all permanent non-industrial staff (FTE) were at Executive Officer I (EOI)/Executive Officer II (EOII) level, while 1.0% of all staff were at Grade 5 level and above.
  • On 1 April 2011, 48.3% of staff were male and 51.7% were female.
  • Of those permanent staff for whom a community background was determined, 50.9% were Protestant and 49.1% were Roman Catholic. Protestant representation ranged from 62.8% at Grade 5 and above level to 47.5% at Administrative Officer level (AO).
  • A total of 1,445 (5.5%) permanent staff had declared a disability, the same proportion as a year earlier.
  • On 1 April 2011, there were 51 (0.2%) permanent staff from ethnic minorities.
  • The average (median) salary was £21,490 (calculated on an FTE basis). One quarter of staff earned £19,169 or less, while one quarter earned £27,115 or more.
  • The proportion of permanent non-industrial staff who left the service during 2010/11 was 2.6% (594 staff), a decrease from 3.1% in the previous year. The resignation rate in 2010/11 (0.5%) was half that of the previous year (1.0%), and is the lowest rate recorded since 2002.

The report is available on the NISRA website.

Notes to editors:

  1. The report is based on data taken at 1st April 2011 primarily from HR Connect, the Human Resource (HR) service for the NICS. Additional data sources were used to obtain data for the newly devolved Department of Justice.
  2. The report contains summary information on the human resource profiles of the NICS and how these profiles have changed over time. It contains analysis by Department, Grade, Age, Gender, Community Background, Disability and Ethnicity as well as information on Pay and Sickness Absence. More detailed information on Pay and Sickness Absence has recently been published in separate reports and links to these publications are provided within this report.
  3. Media enquiries should be addressed to the Department of Finance and Personnel Communications Office on Tel: 028 9016 3388 or 028 9016 3389. Out of Office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.