Religion - SG Core
The data below covers staff working in core Scottish Government directorate generals only. More details can be found in the notes of this publication.
Declaration rates for religion in our internal HR system, recruitment systems and People Survey are 70.2%, 97.7% and suppressed for confidentiality purposes 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 3.3% of the SG Core workforce, compared to 4.2% of Scotland’s population aged 16 to 64.
Staff belonging to a Christian religion make up 31.2% of the SG Core workforce, compared to 35.7% of Scotland’s population aged 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 Scotland’s population aged 16 to 64 by religion is added as a comparison where available.
Figure 6a: Pay band or working pattern by religion - Dec 2023
Part-time staff make up 16% 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 2023
Recruitment
10.9% of applications come from applicants belonging to a non-Christian religion dropping to 3.1% of offers accepted.
27.7% of applications come from applicants belonging to a Christian religion dropping to 22.7% of offers accepted.
The chart below shows the percentage breakdown of the religion of applications to work for the SG Core at each stage of the recruitment process. Applicants applying to multiple jobs are included for each application they make. The percentage breakdown of Scotland’s population aged 16 to 64 by religion is added as a comparison where available.
Figure 6b: Recruitment stage reached by religion in 2023
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 2023
Turnover
20.4% of joiners and 34.6% of leavers are Christian.
The chart below shows the breakdown of the SG Core workforce, the staff that joined in 2023 and the staff that left in 2023 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 Scotland’s working-age population by religion is added as a comparison where available.
Figure 6c: Joiners and leavers breakdown by religion in 2023
The chart above does not include any movement to, from or between 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 SG Core.
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 2023
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
11.9 working days are lost on average to sickness or absences for staff belonging to a non-Christian religion.
8.5 working days are lost on average to sickness or absences for staff belonging to a Christian religion.
8.3 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 2023
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 2023
Performance
51.9% of staff belonging to a non-Christian religion achieved a marking of “Highly effective” or “Exceptional” in 2023.
60.1% of staff belonging to a Christian religion achieved a marking of “Highly effective” or “Exceptional” in 2023.
62.3% of non-religious staff achieved a marking of “Highly effective” or “Exceptional” in 2023.
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 - 2022-23
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 - 2022-23
Substantive promotions
14.5% of staff belonging to a non-Christian religion were promoted in 2023.
9.5% of staff belonging to a Christian religion were promoted in 2023.
13.2% of non-religious staff were promoted in 2023.
The chart below shows the percentage breakdown of staff getting a promotion in 2023 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: Proportion of staff promoted in 2023 by religion
The “not promoted” group includes the following groups of staff:
- Staff that were unsuccessful in their application for a promotion in 2023.
- Staff who did not apply for a promotion in 2023.
- Staff that achieved a promotion in 2023 but didn’t start their new position until 2024.
Some cells in the table below might not contain data. These cells have been suppressed for confidentiality purposes, represented by [c].
Table 6f: Proportion of staff promoted in 2023 by religion
Temporary promotions
9.3% of staff belonging to a non-Christian religion are on a temporary promotion.
7.8% of staff belonging to a Christian religion are on a temporary promotion.
8.3% of non-religious staff are on a temporary promotion.
The chart below shows the percentage of SG Core 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: Proportion of staff on a temporary promotion on Dec 2023 by religion
Some cells in the table below might not contain data. These cells have been suppressed for confidentiality purposes, represented by [c].
Table 6g: Proportion of staff on a temporary promotion on Dec 2023 by religion
Workforce culture
Results from People Survey 2023 cannot be published until demographic results are published at a Civil Service level. The results below come from the latest data that can be released. The complete data used here can be found in the spreadsheet attached to last year’s publication.
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
67.6% of Christian staff report feeling engaged, compared to 66.2% of non-religious staff.
The chart below shows the percentage of staff who feel engaged with their work in 2022.
Figure 6h: Employee engagement score by religion in 2022
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 2022
Inclusion & fair treatment
86.6% of Christian staff report feeling included and treated fairly, compared to 86.7% of non-religious staff.
The chart below shows the percentage of staff feeling included and that they are treated fairly in 2022.
Figure 6i: Inclusion & fair treatment score by religion in 2022
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 2022
Bullying & harassment
6.8% of Christian staff report experiencing bullying and/or harassment, compared to 6.6% of non-religious staff.
The chart below shows the percentage of staff having experienced bullying and/or harassment at work in 2022. Lower percentages are preferred.
Figure 6j: Bullying & harassment score by religion in 2022
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 2022
Discrimination
5.2% of Christian staff report experiencing discrimination, compared to 5.2% of non-religious staff.
The chart below shows the percentage of staff having experienced discrimination at work in 2022. Lower percentages are preferred.
Figure 6k: Discrimination score by religion in 2022
Some cells in the table below might not contain data. These cells have been suppressed for confidentiality purposes, represented by [c].