From healthcare to education and social care, by choosing a career in the public sector you'll get to work on issues that have a real impact on society.
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), 5.7 million people are employed in the UK's public sector - accounting for nearly a sixth of all those in paid work (September 2021). It's clear that it's a huge employment source, but what exactly is the public sector?
In a nutshell, the public sector is responsible for providing public services in the UK.
The Public Sector includes the Civil Service, which delivers public services and implements government policy nationally; local government and services; the health service; education; higher education; law; criminal justice; planning; and more. Many public services are also delivered by third sector or private organisations, so you may want to look at those too.
You should also check out the Sector resources on Education, Mental Health, Law and Criminal Justice, and Health and Social Care!
Places to start exploring your career options!
If you are looking for a career in the Public Sector but you’re not sure where to start, here are some useful links where you can explore different options:
Job Board
Employers also use job boards to advertise roles, so they’re another way to find opportunities. They often have filters by location and job type to help your search. Here are some sector-specific job sites:
Graduate Schemes
Graduate schemes are a great way to get into the industry at entry-level. Often spanning two years, they provide structured training, and typically a full-time contract after completion. Many of them will allow you earn specific qualifications or accreditations which are recognised across the industry. Here are some graduate schemes in the sector:
Local companies
Professional bodies, organisations and regulatory authorities
Professional bodies and organisations help maintain high standards and reputations in the profession and of their members. Many sectors require their staff to be a member of one of these organisations. Here are some links to the organisations relevant to this sector:
