RECRUITMENT to core roles within the Health Department was a driving factor in the continued growth of the public sector workforce documented by the most recent Labour Market report from Statistics Jersey.
The report marked the number of jobs in both the private and public sectors in June 2026 as the highest recorded to date (55,740 jobs and 10,050 jobs respectively).
The total number of jobs rose by 440 compared with June 2025, representing annual growth of 0.7%.
This comprised an increase of 330 private sector jobs and 110 public sector jobs.
Statistics Jersey noted that: “The annual increase in public sector jobs was driven by growth in core staff within Health and Care Jersey, partially offset by reductions in other departments.”
The report differs in scope from the public sector staffing statistics produced by the Government of Jersey, with the Labour Market report covering the wider public sector including the 12 parishes, which employ around 460 staff.
Earlier this year, Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham revealed that the civil service recruitment freeze introduced amid efforts to control public sector growth will continue into 2027.
He said that the freeze, which was initially introduced in 2024 and targets back-office functions while prioritising staff recruitment to frontline services, was estimated to have saved £31 million by the end of last year in annual staffing costs avoided.
Deputy Malcolm Ferey – vice-chair of the States Employment Board – said: “The latest public sector staffing statistics show that, excluding healthcare and education staff, headcount and full-time equivalent numbers in the public service decreased by 4.7% at the end of June 2026 compared with the same time last year.
“We are delivering on our commitment to limit growth in the size of government while ensuring Islanders continue to receive the healthcare and other essential frontline services they rely on.”
