Religion
Declaration rates for religion in our internal HR system, recruitment systems and People Survey are 73.1%, 99.1% and 98.6% respectively.
The “any other religion” category below consists of individials identifying as Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, Pagan, Sikh, and any other non-Christian religion.
Workforce composition
Staff who haven’t declared their religion are not included in the percentages below.
Headcounts
Staff belonging to a non-Christian religion make up 2.9% of the workforce, compared to 4.2% of the Scottish working-age population (16 to 64).
Staff belonging to a Christian religion make up 32.8% of the workforce, compared to 35.7% of the Scottish working-age population (16 to 64).
The chart below shows the breakdown of the SG Core workforce by religion and either pay band or working pattern (i.e. full-time or part-time). Percentages may include up (↑) or down (↓) arrows to indicate figures that are significantly higher or lower than the staff average. The percentage breakdown of the Scottish working age population by religion is added as a comparison where available.
Figure 6a: Pay band or working pattern by religion - Dec 2021
Bar chart of staff headcounts by religion. The data in the chart is replicated in the table below.
Part-time staff make up 15.5% of all permanent staff.
Some cells in the table below might not contain data. These cells have been suppressed for confidentiality purposes, represented by [c], or are not present in a given data source, represented by [x].
Table 6a: Pay band or working pattern by religion - Dec 2021
Recruitment
6.3% of applications come from applicants belonging to a non-Christian religion dropping to 3.5% of offers accepted.
26.7% of applications come from applicants belonging to a Christian religion dropping to 26.5% of offers accepted.
The chart below shows the percentage breakdown of the religion of applications to work for the Scottish Government at each stage of the recruitment process. Applicants applying to multiple jobs are included for each application they make. The percentage breakdown of the Scottish working age population by religion is added as a comparison where available.
Figure 6b: Recruitment stage reached by religion in 2021
Bar chart of applicant headcounts by religion. The data in the chart is replicated in the table below.
The stages of the recruitment process are explained later in this report
Some cells in the table below might not contain data. These cells have been suppressed for confidentiality purposes, represented by [c], or are not present in a given data source, represented by [x].
Table 6b: Recruitment stage reached by religion in 2021
Turnover
4.3% of joiners and 5.2% of leavers are non-Christian.
23.4% of joiners and 42% of leavers are Christian.
The chart below shows the breakdown of the SG Core workforce, the staff that joined in 2021 and the staff that left in 2021 by religion. Percentages may include up (↑) or down (↓) arrows to indicate figures that are significantly higher or lower than the staff average. The percentage breakdown of the Scottish working age population by religion is added as a comparison where available.
Figure 6c: Joiners and leavers breakdown by religion in 2021
Bar chart of staff joiners and leavers by religion. The data in the chart is replicated in the table below.
The chart above does not include any movement to or from any other Scottish Government organisations.
There is a higher rate of uncertainty in the breakdown of joiners, as the declaration rate of religion among staff increases with time spent working for the Scottish Government.
Some cells in the table below might not contain data. These cells have been suppressed for confidentiality purposes, represented by [c], or are not present in a given data source, represented by [x].
Table 6c: Joiners and leavers breakdown by religion in 2021
Staff experiences
Figures for staff who haven’t declared their religion are not included in the charts below, although they are included in the total figures.
Absences
6.7 working days are lost on average to sickness or absences for non-Christian staff.
6.3 working days are lost on average to sickness or absences for Christian staff.
6.4 working days are lost on average to sickness or absences for non-religious staff.
AWDL is a measure of levels of absence that allows for comparison between different groups. A higher AWDL figure indicates a higher rate of days absent among that group, relative to the number of staff in that group and their working pattern.
Figure 6d: Average working days lost by religion in 2021
Bar chart of average working days lost by religion. The data in the chart is replicated in the table below.
Some cells in the table below might not contain data. These cells have been suppressed for confidentiality purposes, represented by [c].
Table 6d: Average working days lost by religion in 2021
Performance
62.7% of non-Christian staff achieved a marking of “Highly effective” or “Exceptional” in 2021.
65.2% of Christian staff achieved a marking of “Highly effective” or “Exceptional” in 2021.
65.6% of non-religious staff achieved a marking of “Highly effective” or “Exceptional” in 2021.
Performance is assessed annually in April. Percentages may include up (↑) or down (↓) arrows to indicate figures that are significantly higher or lower than the staff average. The staff average includes staff who have not made a declaration.
Figure 6e: Performance marking breakdown by religion - 2020-21
Bar chart of performance marking awarded by religion. The data in the chart is replicated in the table below.
Some cells in the table below might not contain data. These cells have been suppressed for confidentiality purposes, represented by [c].
Table 6e: Performance marking breakdown by religion - 2020-21
Substantive promotions
16.7% of non-Christian staff were promoted in 2021.
17% of Christian staff were promoted in 2021.
21.3% of non-religious staff were promoted in 2021.
The chart below shows the percentage breakdown of staff getting a promotion in 2021 by religion. The percentages below are not the success rates of staff that apply for promotion. Percentages may include up (↑) or down (↓) arrows to indicate figures that are significantly higher or lower than the staff average. The staff average includes staff who have not made a declaration.
Figure 6f: Promotions breakdown by religion in 2021
Bar chart of proportion of staff promoted in the past year by religion. The data in the chart is replicated in the table below.
The “not promoted” group includes the following groups of staff:
- Staff that were unsuccessful in their application for a promotion in 2021.
- Staff who did not apply for a promotion in 2021.
- Staff that achieved a promotion in 2021 but didn’t start their new position until 2022.
Some cells in the table below might not contain data. These cells have been suppressed for confidentiality purposes, represented by [c].
Table 6f: Promotions breakdown by religion in 2021
Temporary promotions
8.1% of non-Christian staff are on a temporary promotion.
10% of Christian staff are on a temporary promotion.
11.1% of non-religious staff are on a temporary promotion.
The chart below shows the percentage of staff on a temporary promotion. Percentages may include up (↑) or down (↓) arrows to indicate figures that are significantly higher or lower than the staff average. The staff average includes staff who have not made a declaration.
Figure 6g: Breakdown by religion and temporary promotion status - Dec 2021
Bar chart of proportion of staff on a temporary promotion by religion. The data in the chart is replicated in the table below.
Some cells in the table below might not contain data. These cells have been suppressed for confidentiality purposes, represented by [c].
Table 6g: Breakdown by religion and temporary promotion status - Dec 2021
Workforce culture
The data below come from the annual Civil Service People Survey and highlight the experiences of staff working in SG Core. The scores below are the percentage of positive responses by respondents indicating they belong to a particular demographic group. Respondents who didn’t answer the question on religion have been removed from these charts and tables, although they are included in the calculation of the total figure.
Some of the percentages in the charts below are followed by arrows indicating the level of statistical significance. These boxes are also colour-coded in various shades of green and red to indicate whether the difference is desirable or not respectively.
The figures for the Sikh group have been suppressed below (represented by [c]) due to the number of responses selecting this group being lower than 10.
Engagement
70.6% of Christian staff report feeling engaged, compared to 68.2% of non-religious staff.
The chart below shows the percentage of staff who feel engaged with their work in 2021.
Figure 6h: Employee engagement score by religion in 2021
Bar chart of employee engagement score by religion. The data in the chart is replicated in the table below.
Some cells in the table below might not contain data. These cells have been suppressed for confidentiality purposes, represented by [c].
Table 6h: Employee engagement score by religion in 2021
Inclusion & fair treatment
88.3% of Christian staff report feeling included and treated fairly, compared to 87.3% of non-religious staff.
The chart below shows the percentage of staff feeling included and that they are treated fairly in 2021.
Figure 6i: Inclusion & fair treatment score by religion in 2021
Bar chart of inclusion and fair treatment score by religion. The data in the chart is replicated in the table below.
Some cells in the table below might not contain data. These cells have been suppressed for confidentiality purposes, represented by [c].
Table 6i: Inclusion & fair treatment score by religion in 2021
Bullying & harassment
6.8% of Christian staff report experiencing bullying and/or harassment, compared to 6.9% of non-religious staff.
The chart below shows the percentage of staff having experienced bullying and/or harassment at work in 2021. Lower percentages are preferred.
Figure 6j: Bullying & harassment score by religion in 2021
Bar chart of proportion of staff experiencing bullying or harassment by religion. The data in the chart is replicated in the table below.
Some cells in the table below might not contain data. These cells have been suppressed for confidentiality purposes, represented by [c].
Table 6j: Bullying & harassment score by religion in 2021
Discrimination
5.4% of Christian staff report experiencing discrimination, compared to 5.6% of non-religious staff.
The chart below shows the percentage of staff having experienced discrimination at work in 2021. Lower percentages are preferred.
Figure 6k: Discrimination score by religion in 2021
Bar chart of proportion of staff experiencing discrimination by religion. The data in the chart is replicated in the table below.
Some cells in the table below might not contain data. These cells have been suppressed for confidentiality purposes, represented by [c].