THE civil service recruitment freeze is estimated to have saved £31 million by the end of last year in annual staffing costs avoided, the Chief Minister has said – as he confirmed that the cost-saving measure “will continue”.
The update from Senator Lyndon Farnham came shortly before publication of the most recent public spending report by Statistics Jersey, which documented overall government expenditure in 2025 of around £1.89 billion.
It noted that this marked a real-terms increase of 2.9%, which is below the figure of 5% recorded in 2024.
Next week, the new Council of Ministers is set reveal their spending plans – including measures intended to relieve some of the cost of living pressures facing Islanders – with the release of the next Budget.
In a written question to Senator Farnham, Deputy Max Andrews asked what actions the States Employment Board would be taking “to streamline the public sector workforce and government services”.
The Chief Minister – who is chair of the SEB – said it would “build on the actions already taken by the previous SEB and Council of Ministers to support a more efficient, affordable and sustainable public service”, while “protecting frontline services and focusing resources on the priorities that matter most to Islanders”.
The recruitment freeze, which targets back-office functions and prioritises staff recruitment to frontline services, was initially introduced in August 2024 and later expanded in a bid to curb the growth of the Island’s public sector workforce.
It was scheduled to be in place until the end of this year. However, Senator Farnham has stated that it “will continue” into 2027 having already delivered “measurable results”.
“It is estimated, based on the previous trajectory, that approximately 515 full-time equivalent posts have been avoided by the end of 2025,” he said.
“This is a saving equivalent to an estimated £31 million in annual staffing costs.”
Senator Farnham continued: “Actions will also be taken to simplify internal governance and accelerate digital transformation in order to work towards a leaner and more efficient public service, with greater focus on delivery rather than process.
“Together, these actions form part of a wider programme to ensure that the public service remains affordable, proportionate and focused on delivery for Islanders.”
He added that further measures will be aligned with the Common Strategic Policy and set out through the Budget.
“The direction is towards a public service that must become leaner, less complex and more cost-effective.
“The States Employment Board will continue to oversee workforce controls and support departments to redesign services, securing recurring savings, whilst protecting frontline services.”
Statistics Jersey’s public spending report listed some of the biggest drivers of increased real -terms expenditure last year.
Grouping spending by purpose, not department, it said that health was up £29.6 million, driven by outpatient and hospital services.
It also cited old age pensions as well as sickness and disability benefits among the factors behind increased social protection spending – up £19.3 million.
Additionally, there was an £8.6 million jump in economic affairs expenditure that the report noted was “driven by business support (including the Better Business Support Package ) and support for tourism and transport links”.
