MORE than 1,000 public sector employees have been recruited from overseas over the past five years, according to figures released by the Chief Minister.
Deputy Lyndon Farnham released the figures in his capacity as chair of the States Employment Board, the employer of all public employees in Jersey.
He confirmed that a total of 1,020 employees were hired from outside Jersey between 2021 and 2025.
Of these, 917 were appointed on permanent contracts and 103 on fixed-term or interim contracts.
The annual total rose steadily from 77 in 2021 to a peak of 291 in 2024, before falling to 240 in 2025. Permanent appointments accounted for the vast majority of recruits each year.
Deputy Farnham said that government “seeks to recruit qualified individuals locally in the first instance”, but extends recruitment outside of Jersey “if the requisite skills and expertise are not available on Island”.
He added that the policy supports essential frontline services, with most overseas recruits working as nurses, doctors, allied health professionals, teachers and social workers.
The 2025 figures, he noted, “begin to reflect the impact of the current recruitment restrictions”.
Deputy Farnham was responding to a written question from Deputy Max Andrews.
