The count of civil servants earning over £100,000 annually has almost doubled, and the yearly salary expenditure has surged by 60%, crossing the £15 billion mark, according to an analysis. Statistics released by the Cabinet Office reveal that the number of officials within Whitehall departments with six-figure incomes has risen to 2,050, marking an 88% increase since 2016.
The data further highlights that the number of officials employed by Whitehall departments has grown by over 100,000 since 2016. Notably, the current workforce is composed of more senior roles, with 87% of the increase in higher-grade civil servants.
This structural shift has contributed to a significant expansion in the civil service salaries budget, which has risen by 60% from £9.7 billion in 2016 to £15.5 billion. Moreover, the number of civil servants receiving an annual pay of over £75,000 has escalated from 4,470 to 12,045, while 2,050 individuals earned more than £100,000.
Insiders from Whitehall have indicated that the pace of growth has diminished in recent times, and suggest that the figures might be influenced by staff transfers from the public sector.
The surge in civil servant numbers is largely attributed to the dual factors of Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, the official figures, scrutinized by the Taxpayers' Alliance campaign group, demonstrate that even amidst the pandemic, Whitehall staff numbers have continued to rise.