From bustling American school districts to vast Chinese provincial offices, a sprawling global workforce of public servants—numbering in the hundreds of millions and accounting for roughly one in every six jobs in many major economies—forms the backbone of our societies, delivering essential services from education and healthcare to infrastructure and administration.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, the United States had 22.8 million government workers, representing 15.2% of total nonfarm payroll employment
- Globally, public sector employment accounted for 18.1% of total employment in OECD countries in 2022
- In the UK, public sector employment stood at 5.89 million people in March 2024, equivalent to 17.1% of the workforce
- US federal government employed 2,100,000 non-postal civilians in September 2023
- In 2022, US state government employment totaled 5.4 million workers
- Local government in the US employed 14.8 million in 2022, the largest share at 65% of public sector
- In 2023, average annual pay for US federal workers was $95,000, 25% above private sector
- UK public sector median hourly pay was £17.42 in 2023, 7.5% higher than private sector
- Canada federal public servants average salary $110,000 CAD in 2023
- In 2023, 57% of US public sector workers were women, compared to 47% in private sector
- UK public sector female employment rate 72.5% vs 68% private in 2023
- Canada public sector 55.3% women in 2023
- US public sector employment grew 0.8% in 2023, adding 177,000 jobs
- UK public sector jobs increased 1.1% to 5.89 million in March 2024
- Canada public employment rose 2.3% in 2023 to 4.1 million
Public sector employment varies significantly in size and pay across different countries.
Compensation and Benefits
- In 2023, average annual pay for US federal workers was $95,000, 25% above private sector
- UK public sector median hourly pay was £17.42 in 2023, 7.5% higher than private sector
- Canada federal public servants average salary $110,000 CAD in 2023
- Australia public sector average weekly earnings $2,100 AUD in 2023, 15% above private
- Germany public sector average gross monthly pay €4,500 in 2023
- France civil servants average annual salary €42,000 in 2023
- Japan public employees average monthly wage ¥450,000 in 2023
- India central government average salary ₹8.5 lakh per year in 2023
- Brazil public sector average monthly pay R$5,200 in 2023
- South Africa public service average annual salary R$450,000 in 2023/24
- EU public sector hourly labor cost €32.5 in 2022
- New Zealand public service median salary NZ$95,000 in 2023
- Sweden public sector average monthly pay SEK 42,000 in 2023
- US state/local government average weekly earnings $1,250 in 2023
- Russia public sector average monthly wage 85,000 RUB in 2023
- Mexico public employees average salary MXN 25,000 monthly in 2023
- Italy public sector average annual gross €38,000 in 2023
- Spain civil servants average monthly pay €2,400 in 2023
- Netherlands public sector average €4,200 monthly in 2023
- US federal benefits cost averaged 37% of pay in 2023, highest among sectors
- China public sector average annual wage CNY 120,000 in 2022
- Turkey public employees average monthly salary TRY 25,000 in 2023
- Poland public sector average gross monthly €1,600 in 2023
- Argentina public workers average monthly pay ARS 800,000 in 2023
- Ireland public sector average weekly earnings €1,050 in 2023
- Belgium public sector labor costs €38/hour in 2022
- Norway public employees average annual NOK 650,000 in 2023
- Denmark public sector average hourly wage DKK 285 in 2023
Compensation and Benefits Interpretation
Across nearly thirty countries, the public sector consistently pays more than its private counterpart, suggesting that stable work, generous benefits, and unionization aren't just perks—they're the price of governance.
Demographic Characteristics
- In 2023, 57% of US public sector workers were women, compared to 47% in private sector
- UK public sector female employment rate 72.5% vs 68% private in 2023
- Canada public sector 55.3% women in 2023
- Australia public service 56.8% female in 2023
- Germany public administration 42% women in senior roles 2022
- France public sector 60% women overall in 2023
- Japan public sector female share 35% in 2023
- India central government 28% women employees in 2022
- Brazil public sector 52% female in 2023
- South Africa public service 64% women in 2023/24
- EU public administration 52.5% women in 2022
- New Zealand public service 55.7% women in 2023
- Sweden public sector 70% women in 2023
- US public sector median age 45.2 years in 2023, older than private 42.1
- Russia public sector 75% women in education subsector 2022
- Mexico public sector 48% women in 2023
- Italy public employment 45% women executives 2023
- Spain public sector 50.2% women in 2023
- Netherlands public sector 62% women in 2023
- US public sector 40% with bachelor's degree or higher vs 36% private in 2023
- China public sector 45% college-educated in 2022
- Turkey public sector 38% women in 2023
- Poland public administration 55% women 2023
- Argentina public sector 52% female 2022
- Ireland public sector 54% women in 2023
- Belgium public sector 58% women 2023
- Norway public sector 65% women especially in health 2023
- Denmark public sector 75% women in care sectors 2023
Demographic Characteristics Interpretation
While the public sector's reputation as a slightly grayer, more educated, and predominantly female workspace is a global phenomenon, its role as an engine of gender equity varies dramatically, from a Scandinavian powerhouse to a resistant bastion in others.
Employment Trends and Changes
- US public sector employment grew 0.8% in 2023, adding 177,000 jobs
- UK public sector jobs increased 1.1% to 5.89 million in March 2024
- Canada public employment rose 2.3% in 2023 to 4.1 million
- Australia public sector employment up 1.5% to 2.58 million in 2023
- Germany public employment stable at 5.2 million in 2023
- France public sector jobs grew 0.9% in 2023 to 5.7 million
- Japan public employment declined 0.2% to 3.5 million in 2023
- India central government employment down 1.1% since 2014 to 3.4 million in 2022
- Brazil public jobs increased 2.4% to 12.1 million in 2023
- South Africa public employment fell 1.2% to 1.25 million in 2023/24
- OECD public employment ratio stable at 18% from 2019-2022
- New Zealand public employment up 3.2% to 412,000 in 2023
- Sweden public sector grew 1.4% to 1.3 million in 2023
- US local government employment up 1.6% in 2023
- Russia public sector employment decreased 0.5% in 2022
- Mexico public employment rose 1.8% to 4.8 million in 2023
- Italy public employment stable at 3.4 million in 2023
- Spain public jobs up 2.1% to 2.9 million in 2023
- Netherlands public sector down 0.3% in 2023
- US public sector projected to grow 4% by 2032 to 23.7 million
- China public employment trend upward 2% annually since 2020
- Turkey public employment increased 3.5% to 5.3 million in 2023
- Poland public sector up 1.7% in 2023
- Argentina public employment grew 4.2% in 2022 amid inflation
- Ireland public jobs up 2.8% to 422,000 in 2023
- Belgium public employment stable 0.1% growth in 2023
- Norway public sector up 1.9% to 850,000 in 2023
- Denmark public employment increased 0.7% in 2023
Employment Trends and Changes Interpretation
Despite modest global growth, public sector expansion appears more like a polite national disagreement than a coordinated march, with some nations enthusiastically recruiting while others quietly shrink their ranks.
Employment by Government Level
- US federal government employed 2,100,000 non-postal civilians in September 2023
- In 2022, US state government employment totaled 5.4 million workers
- Local government in the US employed 14.8 million in 2022, the largest share at 65% of public sector
- UK central government employed 414,000 in March 2024, down 1.2% from prior year
- In Australia, state and territory governments employed 1.4 million in June 2023, 54% of public sector
- Canada's federal public service had 357,000 employees in 2023
- Germany federal level employed 450,000 civil servants in 2022
- France local governments employed 1.9 million in 2023, 33% of public sector
- Japan's local public entities employed 2.7 million in 2023, 77% of public sector
- In India, central government employed 3.4 million in 2022
- Brazil municipal governments had 7.2 million employees in 2023, 60% of public sector
- South Africa national government employed 200,000 in 2023/24
- EU local government employment was 20.1 million in 2022
- New Zealand central government had 45,000 core employees in June 2023
- Sweden local authorities employed 950,000 in 2023, 73% of public sector
- US state education sector employed 3.2 million in 2023
- Russia's regional governments employed 15 million in 2022
- Mexico state governments had 1.2 million workers in 2023
- Italy regional and local employed 2.6 million in 2023
- Spain autonomous communities employed 1.1 million in 2023
- Netherlands local governments had 450,000 employees in 2023
- In 2023, US local education employed 7.5 million, largest subcategory
- China provincial governments employed 20 million in 2022
- Turkey local administrations had 2.8 million in 2023
- Poland local government employed 1.5 million in 2023
- Argentina provincial governments had 2.1 million in 2022
- Ireland local authorities employed 35,000 in 2023
- Belgium federal government had 120,000 employees in 2023
- Norway central government employed 180,000 in 2023
- Denmark municipal governments had 450,000 workers in 2023
Employment by Government Level Interpretation
While the feds get the headlines, it's the sprawling, multi-layered armies of local and state government workers—from teachers to trash collectors—who truly form the vast and often underappreciated bedrock of public service across the globe.
Total Employment Levels
- In 2023, the United States had 22.8 million government workers, representing 15.2% of total nonfarm payroll employment
- Globally, public sector employment accounted for 18.1% of total employment in OECD countries in 2022
- In the UK, public sector employment stood at 5.89 million people in March 2024, equivalent to 17.1% of the workforce
- Canada reported 4.1 million public sector employees in 2023, comprising 20.5% of total employment
- Australia's public sector employed 2.58 million people in June 2023, or 19.8% of the employed population
- In Germany, public sector jobs numbered 5.2 million in 2022, about 11.5% of total employment
- France had 5.7 million public sector workers in 2023, representing 20.4% of total employment
- Japan's public sector employment was 3.5 million in 2023, or 5.4% of the workforce
- India employed 14.6 million in central and state government sectors in 2022
- Brazil's public sector had 12.1 million formal jobs in 2023, 11.8% of total formal employment
- South Africa's public sector employment reached 1.25 million in 2023/24
- In 2022, EU public administration employed 32.5 million people, 14.2% of total employment
- New Zealand's public sector had 412,000 employees in June 2023, 15.7% of workforce
- Sweden reported 1.3 million public sector jobs in 2023, 25.6% of total employment
- In the US, state and local government employed 19.2 million in 2023
- Russia's public sector accounted for 25 million jobs in 2022, about 32% of employment
- Mexico had 4.8 million public employees in 2023, 9.5% of workforce
- In Italy, public sector employment was 3.4 million in 2023, 14.1% of total
- Spain employed 2.9 million in public administration in 2023, 13.8% of employment
- Netherlands public sector had 1.2 million jobs in 2023, 13.2% of total employment
- In 2023, US federal civilian employment excluding postal was 2.87 million
- China's public sector employment exceeded 50 million in formal roles in 2022
- In 2023, local government in the US had 14.8 million employees
- Turkey's public sector employed 5.3 million in 2023, 17.2% of workforce
- Poland had 2.1 million public employees in 2023, 12.4% of total
- In 2022, public sector in Argentina was 3.8 million, 19.5% of formal employment
- Ireland's public sector employment was 422,000 in 2023, 17.9% of workforce
- Belgium reported 900,000 public sector workers in 2023, 19.8% of total employment
- In 2023, Norway's public sector had 850,000 employees, 31.2% of workforce
- Denmark employed 780,000 in public sector in 2023, 26.5% of total
Total Employment Levels Interpretation
It seems the world’s workforce is roughly 15-25% government staff, meaning globally we've quietly agreed that about one in five people should be professionally entrusted with keeping the lights on, the trains (mostly) running, and the paperwork eternally circulating.
Sources & References
- Reference 1BLSbls.govVisit source
- Reference 2STATSstats.oecd.orgVisit source
- Reference 3ONSons.gov.ukVisit source
- Reference 4STATCANstatcan.gc.caVisit source
- Reference 5ABSabs.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 6DESTATISdestatis.deVisit source
- Reference 7INSEEinsee.frVisit source
- Reference 8STATstat.go.jpVisit source
- Reference 9LABOURlabour.gov.inVisit source
- Reference 10GOVgov.brVisit source
- Reference 11DPSAdpsa.gov.zaVisit source
- Reference 12ECec.europa.euVisit source
- Reference 13STATSstats.govt.nzVisit source
- Reference 14SCBscb.seVisit source
- Reference 15ROSSTATrosstat.gov.ruVisit source
- Reference 16INEGIinegi.org.mxVisit source
- Reference 17ISTATistat.itVisit source
- Reference 18INEine.esVisit source
- Reference 19CBScbs.nlVisit source
- Reference 20STATSstats.gov.cnVisit source
- Reference 21CENSUScensus.govVisit source
- Reference 22DATAdata.tuik.gov.trVisit source
- Reference 23STATstat.gov.plVisit source
- Reference 24INDECindec.gob.arVisit source
- Reference 25CSOcso.ieVisit source
- Reference 26STATBELstatbel.fgov.beVisit source
- Reference 27SSBssb.noVisit source
- Reference 28DSTdst.dkVisit source
- Reference 29OPMopm.govVisit source
- Reference 30CANADAcanada.caVisit source
- Reference 31SOUMUsoumu.go.jpVisit source
- Reference 32DOPTdopt.gov.inVisit source
- Reference 33IBGEibge.gov.brVisit source
- Reference 34PUBLICSERVICEpublicservice.govt.nzVisit source
- Reference 35NCESnces.ed.govVisit source
- Reference 36SEPEsepe.esVisit source
- Reference 37TBS-SCTtbs-sct.gc.caVisit source
- Reference 38MHLWmhlw.go.jpVisit source
- Reference 39STATE SERVICESstate services.govt.nzVisit source
- Reference 40APSCapsc.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 41BMIbmi.bund.deVisit source
- Reference 42GENDERgender.go.jpVisit source
- Reference 43STATCANwww150.statcan.gc.caVisit source
- Reference 44OECDoecd.orgVisit source
- Reference 45BANXICObanxico.org.mxVisit source
- Reference 46MPTmpt.gob.esVisit source