The pie charts illustrate the percentage of employees by age in the public sector in the UK in 2015 and 2020. Overall, while the proportion of people between 21-30, and 41-50 working in the public sector experienced an upward trend, the reverse pattern was observed in the figure for the remaining age groups – under 21, 31-40, and over 50. Additionally, people between 21 and 30 years old constitute the highest percentage of employees in both years whereas a significant drop was seen in the figures for the other services, with the least proportion of people in their forties in the public sector in 2020.
Focusing on the decreasing trends, in 2015, employees over 50 and between 21 and 30 accounted for the largest proportion, at 23 %, in comparison with 21% and 19% of individuals working in their thirties and forties. By 2020, workers between 31-40 and over 50 exhibited a similar downward trajectory in the percentage of people involved in the public sector. Moreover, the under 21 age group narrowed down to 12 % from 14% over 5 years.
With regard to the increasing patterns, by the end of the period, the percentage of people in their twenties saw a gradual rise, growing to 33% from 23%, making them the main part of the public sector. In 2015, 19% of forties people were involved in the public sector, which increased steeply to reach its peak of 28% in 2020.