According to The Times (Saturday 02/01/21), the Prime Minister has promised a big public sector recruitment drive to help the economy recover from the pandemic. Government figures suggest that good progress on recruitment was made last year:
- There are 299,184 nurses, an increase of 13,313 over the last year
- There are 122,446 doctors, with an increase of 6,030 hired by last September
- Police officers rose by 6,000 and there are plans to recruit 20,000 more during this parliament
- Teacher numbers are up with 41,000 trainees recruited last year
- Border Force staff increased by 900, and a further 1,100 to be hired by July
- 1,760 prison officers and 443 probation officers were recruited in England and Wales, with plans for a further 3,200 prison and 1,500 probation officers respectively
According to the PM, “2021 will be a year of growth and renewal, and having the very best frontline workers will be a critical part of that.”
