Scotland's civil service has expanded to its largest size ever, reaching 27,800 staff, despite previous commitments by the Scottish National Party (SNP) to implement cuts. This growth has occurred even as public satisfaction with services has declined.
Last year, former finance secretary Shona Robison announced plans to reduce the number of government employees by 20 percent to ease financial pressures. However, recent statistics show that the headcount has increased since that pledge. The number of staff in the devolved civil service has grown 74 percent since the SNP first took power in 2007, when the figure stood at 16,000.
The newly published figures encompass staff within the government's core departments, including health, economy, and education, as well as entities like the Crown Office, non-ministerial departments, and agencies such as Social Security Scotland and Transport Scotland. While staff numbers in the core government directorates saw a slight decrease, this was more than compensated for by an increase in staffing levels across various agencies.
Senior Staff Salaries Reach New Heights
Concurrent with the rise in overall staff numbers, the salaries for senior government officials have also reached record levels. In 2024, 66 senior civil service (SCS) staff earned over £100,000 annually. Following recent pay increases, this number has risen to 70 officials earning more than £110,000, with 37 of them receiving over £120,000 per year. The highest earner is Caroline Lamb, who holds a dual role as head of the Scottish NHS and director general of the government's health and social care directorate, with a salary between £205,000 and £209,999.
Critics have voiced concerns over the growing size and cost of the civil service. Scottish Conservative finance spokesman Craig Hoy stated that the situation demonstrates the SNP's "warped priorities," arguing that the cost of government has "mushroomed" while essential services face cuts and taxes remain high. William Yarwood, campaigns director at the TaxPayers' Alliance, echoed these sentiments, criticizing the SNP for breaking its promise to "slim down the state" and instead increasing the number of officials, bureaucracy, and six-figure salaries.
The Scottish Government acknowledged a recent drop in staff numbers within its core directorates, citing a reduction of over 3 percent in the year to March 2026. The government also noted that pay for Senior Civil Service positions is determined by the UK Government. Reductions across the entire civil service are reportedly planned.