1. Recruitment in the Northern Ireland Civil Service:

01 January 2024 - 31 December 2024

Publication Date: 25 March 2025

Next publication: March 2026

Introduction

This output provides a high-level statistical summary, from an equality perspective, of the recruitment of staff to the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) through competitions which closed to further activity during 2024. It compares the profile of applicants and appointees at different stages in recruitment competitions. Outputs up to 2022 examined competitions which closed to applications within a particular calendar year.

The Background Quality Report is available on the NISRA website.

This is an Official Statistics Publication

Our statistical practice is regulated by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR). OSR sets the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics that all producers of official statistics should adhere to. You are welcome to contact us directly with any comments about how we meet these standards. Alternatively, you can contact OSR by emailing regulation@statistics.gov.uk or via the OSR website.

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2. Definitions

Things you need to know

Basis for analysis - This year’s report is an analysis of Recruitment competitions in the Northern Ireland Civil Service which closed to activity during the period 1 January 2024 - 31 December 2024. Previous reports (up to 2022) examined competitions which closed to applications within a particular calendar year. The primary advantage of this change is that figures are final and do not have to be updated over subsequent reports.

Permanent employees are employees with a contract with no agreed expiry date or a fixed-term contract of more than 12 months.

Temporary/casual employees are those with a fixed term contract of twelve months or less or employed on a casual basis.

Senior Civil Service posts are defined as those at Grade 5 and above.

Grade Level and Abbreviation
Grade 5 (Assistant Secretary) and higher - G5+
Grade 6 (Senior Principal) & Grade 7 (Principal) - G6/G7
Deputy Principal - DP
Staff Officer - SO
Executive Officer I & Executive Officer II - EOI/EOII
Administrative Officer - AO
Administrative Assistant - AA

External Sources
Comparative data sourced from Census 2021. Census Office apply statistical disclosure control methods to ensure individuals cannot be identified. For more information see Statistical disclosure control methodology. These disclosure control methods can also mean that the totals in Census comparator tables may vary slightly.

Data can be accessed by clicking on any of the following section 75 categories:
Sex
Community Background
Ethnicity
Disability
Age (16-65+)
Sexual Orientation

3. Monitoring Questions

Community Background

Community Background data is based on the answers of each applicant to the monitoring question on the Equal Opportunities Monitoring form with the options being:

I have a Protestant community background
I have a Roman Catholic community background
I have neither a Protestant or Roman Catholic community background

The ‘Not Determined’ category within tables relates to those who have selected the ‘I have neither a Protestant or Roman Catholic community background’ on the equality form. This does not include missing data.

Ethnicity

Ethnicity: Ethnicity data is based on the answers of each applicant to the monitoring questions:

Are you:
White
Of Black Caribbean origin
Of Chinese origin
Of Pakistani origin
Of Black African Origin
Of Bangladeshi origin
Of Indian origin
Other (please specify)

Are you a member of a mixed ethnic group?
Yes/ No

Are you a member of the Irish Travelling Community?
Yes/ No

Sexual Orientation

Sexual Orientation data is based on the answers of each applicant to the following question on the Equal Opportunities Monitoring form:

My sexual orientation is towards someone:
Of the same sex (this covers gay men and lesbians)
Of a different sex (this covers heterosexual men and women)
Of the same sex and the opposite sex (this covers bisexual men and women)

4. Overview

All Permanent jobs

In 2024, 115 NICS recruitment competitions closed to further activity, having attracted 24,840 valid applications. By 31 December 2024, 3,166 appointments had been made over five years. The competition which attracted the highest volume of applicants was for Administrative Officer (15,007 valid applicants). One competition (Grade 6 Accountant) attracted no applicants.

Senior Civil Service jobs

There were were 10 competitions for Senior Civil Service jobs which closed to further activity in 2024, attracting 212 valid applications. By 31 December 2024, 16 appointments had been made from these competitions.

Temporary Jobs

There was 1 competition for temporary posts which closed during this year, attracting 548 valid applications and making 83 appointments.

5. Flowchart

Figure 1

Flowchart of stages for all NICS competitions for Permanent jobs which closed to further activity in 2024
As at 31 December 2024

Figure 2

Flowchart of stages for all NICS competitions for Temporary jobs which closed to further activity in 2024
As at 31 December 2024

6. Sex

Comparator populations are working age population aged 16-64 years who are economically active from Census 2021, with Level 1 qualifications or above. i.e. at least GCSE (grades D-G), CSE (grades 2-5, 1-4 CSEs (grade 1), 1-4 GCSEs (grades A-C), 1-4 ‘O’ level passes, NVQ, level 1, GNVQ Foundation or equivalents

All Permanent Jobs

All Permanent Male Female Total
Eligible Applicants 11,303 11,308 22,611
Invited to Interview 4,088 3,478 7,566
Passed Interview 2,791 2,557 5,348
Appointed 1,697 1,469 3,166
Economically Active aged 16-64 385,921 378,151 764,072

SCS Permanent Jobs

Where totals are less than 100, please treat percentages with caution.

SCS Permanent Male Female Total
Eligible Applicants 38 37 75
Invited to Interview 35 29 64
Passed Interview 16 15 31
Appointed 8 8 16
Economically Active aged 16-64 385,921 378,151 764,072

All Temporary Jobs

Where totals are less than 100, please treat percentages with caution.

All Temporary Male Female Total
Eligible Applicants 236 256 492
Invited to Interview 236 256 492
Passed Interview 132 127 259
Appointed 43 40 83
Economically Active aged 16-64 385,921 378,151 764,072

7. Community Background

Comparator populations are working age population aged 16-64 years who are economically active from Census 2021, with Level 1 qualifications or above. i.e. at least GCSE (grades D-G), CSE (grades 2-5, 1-4 CSEs (grade 1), 1-4 GCSEs (grades A-C), 1-4 ‘O’ level passes, NVQ, level 1, GNVQ Foundation or equivalents

All Permanent Jobs

All Permanent Protestant Catholic Not Determined Total
Eligible Applicants 9,945 10,258 2,407 22,610
Invited to Interview 3,475 3,304 786 7,565
Passed Interview 2,462 2,345 540 5,347
Appointed 1,388 1,482 296 3,166
Economically Active aged 16-64 271,703 320,338 172,038 764,079
Community Background is missing for 1 applicant who was eligible, 1 applicant who was invited to interview and 1 applicant who passed interview.

SCS Permanent Jobs

Where totals are less than 100, please treat percentages with caution.
Some figures on this graph have been suppressed, please see table below for further details.

SCS Permanent Protestant Catholic Not Determined Total
Eligible Applicants 30 37 8 75
Invited to Interview 24 33 7 64
Passed Interview 10 18 3 31
Appointed * 11 # 16
Economically Active aged 16-64 271,703 320,338 172,038 764,079
Suppression is applied to prevent identification of personal information of individual applicants. Cells with counts below 5 are denoted by '*'. Other cells which could lead to identification of small counts are also suppressed and are denoted by '#'. Where figures are redacted from the tables, the corresponding sections of the graph have also been removed.

All Temporary Jobs

Where totals are less than 100, please treat percentages with caution.

All Temporary Protestant Catholic Not Determined Total
Eligible Applicants 170 229 93 492
Invited to Interview 170 229 93 492
Passed Interview 93 123 43 259
Appointed 33 40 10 83
Economically Active aged 16-64 271,703 320,338 172,038 764,079
Suppression is applied to prevent identification of personal information of individual applicants. Cells with counts below 5 are denoted by '*'. Other cells which could lead to identification of small counts are also suppressed and are denoted by '#'. Where figures are redacted from the tables, the corresponding sections of the graph have also been removed.

8. Ethnicity

Comparator populations are working age population aged 16-64 years who are economically active from Census 2021, with Level 1 qualifications or above. i.e. at least GCSE (grades D-G), CSE (grades 2-5, 1-4 CSEs (grade 1), 1-4 GCSEs (grades A-C), 1-4 ‘O’ level passes, NVQ, level 1, GNVQ Foundation or equivalents

All Permanent Jobs

All Permanent White Other (inc Mixed and Traveller) Total
Eligible Applicants 22,083 527 22,610
Invited to Interview 7,421 144 7,565
Passed Interview 5,250 97 5,347
Appointed 3,109 57 3,166
Economically Active aged 16-64 741,113 22,961 764,074
Ethnicity is missing for 1 applicant who was eligible, 1 applicant who was invited to interview and 1 applicant who passed interview.

SCS Permanent Jobs

Where totals are less than 100, please treat percentages with caution.

SCS Permanent White Other (inc Mixed and Traveller) Total
Eligible Applicants 73 2 75
Invited to Interview 62 2 64
Passed Interview 30 1 31
Appointed 16 0 16
Economically Active aged 16-64 741,113 22,961 764,074

All Temporary Jobs

Where totals are less than 100, please treat percentages with caution.

All Temporary White Other (inc Mixed and Traveller) Total
Eligible Applicants 464 28 492
Invited to Interview 464 28 492
Passed Interview 249 10 259
Appointed 76 7 83
Economically Active aged 16-64 741,113 22,961 764,074

9. Disability

Comparator populations are working age population aged 16-64 years who are economically active from Census 2021, with Level 1 qualifications or above. i.e. at least GCSE (grades D-G), CSE (grades 2-5, 1-4 CSEs (grade 1), 1-4 GCSEs (grades A-C), 1-4 ‘O’ level passes, NVQ, level 1, GNVQ Foundation or equivalents

All Permanent Jobs

All Permanent Not Declared Disabled Declared Disabled Total
Eligible Applicants 20,838 1,773 22,611
Invited to Interview 6,983 583 7,566
Passed Interview 4,941 407 5,348
Appointed 2,930 236 3,166
Economically Active aged 16-64 686,319 77,753 764,072

SCS Permanent Jobs

Where totals are less than 100, please treat percentages with caution.
Some figures on this graph have been suppressed, please see table below for further details.

SCS Permanent Not Declared Disabled Declared Disabled Total
Eligible Applicants 69 6 75
Invited to Interview 59 5 64
Passed Interview # * 31
Appointed # * 16
Economically Active aged 16-64 686,319 77,753 764,072
Suppression is applied to prevent identification of personal information of individual applicants. Cells with counts below 5 are denoted by '*'. Other cells which could lead to identification of small counts are also suppressed and are denoted by '#'. Where figures are redacted from the tables, the corresponding sections of the graph have also been removed.

All Temporary Jobs

Where totals are less than 100, please treat percentages with caution.
Some figures on this graph have been suppressed, please see table below for further details.

All Temporary Not Declared Disabled Declared Disabled Total
Eligible Applicants 457 35 492
Invited to Interview 457 35 492
Passed Interview 240 19 259
Appointed # * 83
Economically Active aged 16-64 686,319 77,753 764,072
Suppression is applied to prevent identification of personal information of individual applicants. Cells with counts below 5 are denoted by '*'. Other cells which could lead to identification of small counts are also suppressed and are denoted by '#'. Where figures are redacted from the tables, the corresponding sections of the graph have also been removed.

10. Agegroup

Comparator populations are working age population aged 16-65+ years who are economically active from Census 2021, with Level 1 qualifications or above. i.e. at least GCSE (grades D-G), CSE (grades 2-5, 1-4 CSEs (grade 1), 1-4 GCSEs (grades A-C), 1-4 ‘O’ level passes, NVQ, level 1, GNVQ Foundation or equivalents

All Permanent Jobs

All Permanent 16-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+ Total
Eligible Applicants 4,813 8,555 5,345 3,061 784 6 22,564
Invited to Interview 1,211 2,698 2,009 1,332 296 6 7,552
Passed Interview 963 2,169 1,344 730 129 2 5,337
Appointed 572 1,184 825 489 88 0 3,158
Economically Active aged 16-65+ 107,596 186,482 187,119 170,321 112,557 22,848 786,923
Agegroup is missing for 47 applicants who were eligible, 14 applicants who were invited to interview, 11 applicants who passed interview and 8 applicants who were appointed.

SCS Permanent Jobs

Where totals are less than 100, please treat percentages with caution.

SCS Permanent 16-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+ Total
Eligible Applicants 0 1 31 35 7 1 75
Invited to Interview 0 1 25 30 7 1 64
Passed Interview 0 0 14 15 2 0 31
Appointed 0 0 6 10 0 0 16
Economically Active aged 16-65+ 107,596 186,482 187,119 170,321 112,557 22,848 786,923

All Temporary Jobs

Where totals are less than 100, please treat percentages with caution.

All Temporary 16-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+ Total
Eligible Applicants 470 15 4 2 0 0 491
Invited to Interview 470 15 4 2 0 0 491
Passed Interview 247 8 1 2 0 0 258
Appointed 77 5 0 0 0 0 82
Economically Active aged 16-65+ 107,596 186,482 187,119 170,321 112,557 22,848 786,923
Agegroup is missing for 1 applicant who was eligible, 1 applicant who was invited to interview, 1 applicant who passed interview and 1 applicant who was appointed.

11. Sexual Orientation

All Permanent Jobs


All Permanent Different Sex Both Sexes Same Sex Total
Eligible Applicants 20,901 715 950 22,566
Invited to Interview 7,016 234 294 7,544
Passed Interview 4,901 199 229 5,329
Appointed 2,911 115 127 3,153
Sexual Orientation is missing for 45 applicants who were eligible, 22 applicants who were invited to interview, 19 applicants who passed interview and 13 applicants who were appointed.

SCS Permanent Jobs


Where totals are less than 100, please treat percentages with caution.
Some figures on this graph have been suppressed, please see table below for further details.

SCS Permanent Different Sex Both Sexes Same Sex Total
Eligible Applicants 70 0 5 75
Invited to Interview 59 0 5 64
Passed Interview # 0 * 31
Appointed # 0 * 16
Suppression is applied to prevent identification of personal information of individual applicants. Cells with counts below 5 are denoted by '*'. Other cells which could lead to identification of small counts are also suppressed and are denoted by '#'. Where figures are redacted from the tables, the corresponding sections of the graph have also been removed.

All Temporary Jobs


Where totals are less than 100, please treat percentages with caution.
Some figures on this graph have been suppressed, please see table below for further details.

All Temporary Different Sex Both Sexes Same Sex Total
Eligible Applicants 445 32 15 492
Invited to Interview 445 32 15 492
Passed Interview 232 19 8 259
Appointed 70 # * 83
Suppression is applied to prevent identification of personal information of individual applicants. Cells with counts below 5 are denoted by '*'. Other cells which could lead to identification of small counts are also suppressed and are denoted by '#'. Where figures are redacted from the tables, the corresponding sections of the graph have also been removed.

Economically Active aged 16-24

Sexual Orientation is only available as Different Sex/ Other Sexual Orientation from Census 2021. These figures exclude Prefer not to say/ Not stated and are presented for information only.

Comparator populations are working age population aged 16-64 years who are economically active from Census 2021, with Level 1 qualifications or above. i.e. at least GCSE (grades D-G), CSE (grades 2-5, 1-4 CSEs (grade 1), 1-4 GCSEs (grades A-C), 1-4 ‘O’ level passes, NVQ, level 1, GNVQ Foundation or equivalents

Census 2021 Different Sex Other Sexual Orientation Total
Economically Active aged 16-64 706,847 20,963 727,810

12. Employment History

All Permanent Jobs


All Permanent Current Previous Never Total
Eligible Applicants 4,789 1,946 15,772 22,507
Invited to Interview 2,840 592 4,089 7,521
Passed Interview 1,727 443 3,153 5,323
Appointed 1,392 219 1,539 3,150
Employment History is missing for 104 applicants who were eligible, 45 applicants who were invited to interview, 25 applicants who passed interview and 16 applicants who were appointed.

SCS Permanent Jobs


Where totals are less than 100, please treat percentages with caution.

SCS Permanent Current Previous Never Total
Eligible Applicants 56 5 13 74
Invited to Interview 52 4 8 64
Passed Interview 27 2 2 31
Appointed 14 1 1 16
Employment History is missing for 1 applicant who was eligible.

All Temporary Jobs


Where totals are less than 100, please treat percentages with caution.

All Temporary Current Previous Never Total
Eligible Applicants 2 4 486 492
Invited to Interview 2 4 486 492
Passed Interview 1 4 254 259
Appointed 0 3 80 83

13. Contact Details

Further statistical information can be obtained from:

Workforce Statistics and Analysis,
People & Organisational Development,
Bruce Street, Belfast,
BT2 7JD
Telephone: 028 9038 8433 or email:

Accessibility contact

Please contact Dissemination Branch for assistance with accessibility requirements or alternative formats. Contact details are:

Email:

Telephone: +44 (0)300 200 7836

Dissemination Branch
NISRA
Colby House
Stranmillis Court
BELFAST
BT9 5RR