Two thirds of new Civil Service jobs now created outside London

More than two thirds of all new full-time Civil Service jobs are now being created in regional locations away from London, as the government's Places for Growth programme moves decision-making closer to the communities it affects.

New figures show that around 67 per cent of new full-time Civil Service positions are in the programme's key regional locations, and that four in five civil servants are now based outside London.

Target beaten three years early

Places for Growth moves Civil Service roles out of London to regional hubs across the UK. Since it launched, and up to March 2025, 24,621 roles have moved outside the capital, beating the programme's target of 22,000 three years early.

Progress is also being made on moving senior leaders. As of March 2026, 36.6 per cent of UK-based senior civil servants were based outside London, as the government works towards half of senior Civil Service leadership being in the regions and nations.

Devolution by design

The government says that policy and decision makers must reflect the country, so that those making decisions understand how they are felt in the communities they affect. "This is devolution by design and devolution by default," it said.

The figures follow the Prime Minister's announcement in August that Whitehall officials will be seconded into mayors' offices, to build capacity in mayoral authorities and speed up the transfer of power to local areas. A new Civil Service Fast Stream pilot has also been announced in Yorkshire and the Humber, so young people can build careers without moving to London.

The government says No.10 North, the Prime Minister's base in the North, is the beating heart of these policies, bringing departments together behind a shared mission to devolve power and unlock growth across the country.

What it means for Birmingham

Birmingham is one of the cities that has gained from the move. Several government departments and agencies have regional centres in the city, bringing thousands of public sector jobs to the city centre and supporting shops, cafés and transport in the surrounding streets.

Civil Service jobs offer secure careers with training and progression, and having more of them in Birmingham means local graduates and career changers can build a career in government without leaving the city. With more senior roles also moving out of London, there are growing opportunities to rise to the top while staying close to home.

The government says it wants to unlock talent across the country and work with local leaders to deliver a modern public service, and that bringing officials closer to communities will help make sure national policy reflects local realities.