The state of the civil service: size and shape

Whitehall Monitor 2025 – the Institute for Government’s flagship annual report on the civil service – found that high staff turnover, confused workforce planning, slipping morale and uncompetitive pay will hinder its ability to deliver Labour’s missions, even with an increased headcount and a relentless pressure for greater efficiency and productivity

Keir Starmer and Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden have shown a welcome enthusiasm for Whitehall reform – including a commitment to a “test and learn” mindset and “mission boards” – but little will change until long-running civil service challenges, like excessive staff turnover and falling morale, are resolved.

This webinar – the first in a three-part series focusing on Whitehall Monitor’s findings – examined the size and shape of the civil service, including the growth of Whitehall departments since 2016 and the changing structure and composition of the workforce.

The webinar featured:

Alex Thomas, Programme Director at the Institute for Government

Liz Tolcher, Workforce Transformation Expert at PA Consulting

Jack Worlidge, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government and lead author of Whitehall Monitor 2025

The event was chaired by Emma Norris, Deputy Director of the Institute for Government.

We would like to thank PA Consulting for supporting both this event and Whitehall Monitor 2025.

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