Civilian personnel biannual diversity dashboard report October 2023
Updated 15 January 2024
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Introduction
This statistical release presents figures on the current numbers and proportions for diversity characteristics of civilian personnel employed by the Ministry of Defence (MOD). The report covers civilian personnel within MOD Main Top Level Budgetary (TLB) areas and excludes personnel in organisations with delegated personnel functions; Trading Funds, Executive Agencies, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and Locally engaged civilians.
From 1 April 2023, Defence Nuclear Organisation (DNO) is included within the figures presented as a MOD Main TLB. Prior to 1 April 2023, for the purposes of producing this Official Statistic, DNO was not separately identifiable from the Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA) an Executive Agency, and therefore was excluded.
This statistical release is produced as part of the transparency and accountability of the Ministry of Defence to Parliament and the public. The information has a wide range of users including the media, politicians, academic researchers and the general public who use the information to:
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understand the size and distribution of core MOD main civilian personnel by individual diversity categories
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assist in understanding the effect of changes in Defence policy, for instance changes to diversity analysis within recruiting
For further information on the MOD Diversity Dashboard please visit:
Main Points and Trends
At 1 October 2023, of MOD main civilian personnel:
45.6% are female, a rise of 0.7 percentage points compared with 1 October 2022.
6.5% are ethnic minorities (excluding white minorities), a rise of 0.4 percentage points compared with 1 October 2022.
3.1% identify as being lesbian, gay & bisexual (LGB), a rise of 0.3 percentage points compared with 1 October 2022.
13.8% have declared a disability, an increase of 2.2 percentage points compared with 1 October 2022.
10.4% are part-time personnel, an increase of 0.3 percentage points compared with 1 October 2022.
55.8% have declared a religion or belief as Christian, a fall of 1.4 percentage points compared with 1 October 2022.
The average age is 47.4 years, a reduction of 0.3 years compared with 1 October 2022.
Declaration Rate: Ethnicity, disability, religion or belief and sexual orientation are self-declared. Declaration rates are the number of personnel who make an ‘active declaration’ as a proportion of the total personnel. To ensure meaningful representation rates for a diversity field, a minimum of 60% declaration level is required.
Representation Rate: The number of personnel within ‘active declaration’ that select a particular active diversity as a proportion of the total personnel within ‘active declaration’. An active declaration excludes unknown and undeclared records including ‘choose not to declare/prefer not to say’.
MOD Main Civilian Personnel: Includes staff in MOD Main TLB Areas, the major organisational groupings of the MOD directly responsible for the planning, management and delivery of departmental capability. These are Navy Command, Army TLB, HQ Air Command, Head Office & Corporate Services, UK Strategic Command, Defence Infrastructure Organisation and Defence Nuclear Organisation. Please see glossary for further information.
Age
The average age of MOD main civilian personnel is 47.4 years. The average age has been reducing from 1 October 2022 (table 1).
Table 1 – Average age of MOD main civilian personnel, 1 October 2021 to 1 October 2023
| October 21 | April 22 | October 22 | April 23 | October 23 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Headcount | 37,765 | 37,082 | 36,751 | 37,621 | 38,116 |
| Average age (years) | 47.7 | 47.7 | 47.7 | 47.5 | 47.4 |
Age Group Distribution
Just over a third (34.8%) of MOD main personnel were aged 50 to 59 at 1 October 2023, with more than half (51.2%) aged 50 or over (figure 1). This is a slight reduction compared to 1 October 2022, with 52.4% aged 50 or over.
The percentage of MOD main personnel aged 40 to 49 is 20.3%, and the percentage of 30 to 39 is 17.6%. The age groups with the lowest percentage of MOD main personnel are 16 to 29 with 10.9%, and 60 and over with 16.4%.
Figure 1 – Comparison of age band distribution, 1 October 2022 to 1 October 2023
Sex Representation
There are more men (20,724) than women (17,392) in the MOD, although the proportion of women is slowly increasing (table 2).
Table 2 – Female representation of MOD main civilian personnel, as at 1 October 2021 to 1 October 2023
| October 21 | April 22 | October 22 | April 23 | October 23 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Headcount | 16,733 | 16,504 | 16,517 | 16,993 | 17,392 |
| Proportion of total (%) | 44.3 | 44.5 | 44.9 | 45.2 | 45.6 |
Age Group Distribution
Figure 2a shows there was a higher proportion of female personnel for age groups 16 to 29, 30 to 39 and 40 to 49, whilst there was a higher proportion of male personnel for age groups 50 to 59 and 60 and over. This indicates that overall, female personnel are likely to be younger than their male counterparts.
Figure 2a – Sex by age group distribution, 1 October 2023
Age Band Charts
Charts by age band for each diversity category have been compiled on the basis of within-band analysis. For instance, for each age band, the number of female staff is divided by the total female population and multiplied by 100 to get the percentage of the distribution. This means that the female proportions split by age will add up to 100%.
Grade Band Distribution
Figure 2b shows there was a higher proportion of male personnel in industrial grades in comparison to females. There was a higher proportion of females in grade bands AA to AO, EO and HEO to SEO.
Non-industrial Personnel
Civilian personnel who undertake work such as administration, analysis, policy, procurement, finance, medical, dental, teaching, policing, science and engineering.
Industrial Personnel
Civilian personnel employed primarily in a trade, craft or other manual labour occupation. This covers a wide range of work such as industrial technicians, air freight handlers, storekeepers, vergers and drivers.
Figure 2b – Sex by grade distribution, 1 October 2023
Grade Band Charts
Charts by grade band for each diversity category have been compiled on the basis of across-group analysis. For instance, for each grade, the number of female staff is divided by the total female population, and the result multiplied by 100 to get the percentage of the distribution. This means that female and male proportions split by grade will add to 100%.
Ethnicity Representation
Of those with a known ethnicity, the percentage of MOD main civilian personnel who are from an ethnic minority background is 6.5%. Between October 2021 and October 2023, the proportion decreased to 6% in October 2022 before rising to 6.5% in October 2023 (table 3).
Table 3 – Ethnic minorities (excluding white minorities) representation of MOD main civilian personnel, as at 1 October 2021 to 1 October 2023
| October 21 | April 22 | October 22 | April 23 | October 23 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Headcount | 2,104 | 1,909 | 1,900 | 2,030 | 2,042 |
| Proportion of total (%) | 6.4 | 6.0 | 6.1 | 6.4 | 6.5 |
For further figures of the ethnicity groups within ethnic minorities (excluding white minorities), please see ODS excel table 2.1.
Age Group Distribution
Figure 3a shows there was a higher proportion of ethnic minorities (excluding white minorities) for age bands 16 to 29 up to 40 to 49 years of age at 59.9%, compared to the equivalent white (including white minorities) population at 44.5%, with this trend reversing for age bands 50 years and over.
Figure 3a – Ethnicity grouping by age band distribution, 1 October 2023
Grade Band Distribution
Within figure 3b, the distribution of ethnic minorities (excluding white minorities) and white (including white minorities) personnel across grade was broadly similar for grades AA to AO and EO. There was a higher proportion of ethnic minorities (excluding white minorities) personnel at grades HEO to SEO and grade 6 and 7.
The proportion of white (including white minorities) personnel who are in industrial grades was 8.2% compared with 3.9% for ethnic minorities (excluding white minorities) personnel.
Figure 3b – ethnicity grouping by grade distribution, 1 October 2023
Sexual Orientation Representation
Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual (LGB)
The term referring to those who self-identify their sexual orientation as being other than heterosexual, including, lesbian, gay, bisexual, asexual and other orientations. Transgender people may or may not identify as one of these orientations.
Of those with a known sexual orientation, 3.1% identify as being lesbian, gay, bisexual, asexual and other orientations. Between October 2021 and October 2023, the proportion and headcount total of personnel with an active declaration of LGB reduced through to October 22, before increasing again through to October 2023 (table 4).
Table 4 – LGB representation of MOD main civilian personnel, as at 1 October 2021 to 1 October 2023
| October 21 | April 22 | October 22 | April 23 | October 23 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Headcount | 939 | 813 | 788 | 838 | 889 |
| Proportion of total (%) | 3.2 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 2.9 | 3.1 |
Age Group Distribution
MOD main civilian personnel aged 16 to 29 through to 30 to 39 account for 56.3% of those identifying as LGB. This was a higher proportion compared to the equivalent heterosexual population at 24.4% (figure 4). The largest proportion of personnel identifying as heterosexual are aged 50 to 59 (37%).
Figure 4 – Sexual Orientation by age group distribution, 1 October 2023
Grade Band Distribution
The distribution of grades was broadly similar across all sexual orientation groups. For further information on sexual orientation and grade, please see ODS Excel, table 3.4.
Religion and Belief Representation
The percentage of MOD main civilian personnel reporting a religion or belief is 59.6%, whilst the percentage of personnel recording no religion or belief is 38.4% (table 5). The most commonly reported religion or belief was Christianity at 55.8%.
Table 5 shows that in the period 1 October 2021 to 1 October 2023 the proportion of personnel reporting a religion or belief of Christian has been falling, with a corresponding increase of no religion or belief.
Table 5 – Religion or belief representation of MOD Main civilian personnel, 1 October 2021 to 1 October 2023
| October 21 | April 22 | October 22 | April 23 | October 23 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Headcount | 28,999 | 28,702 | 28,051 | 28,665 | 28,489 |
| Religion or Belief (%) | 64.0 | 61.0 | 60.8 | 60.2 | 59.6 |
| Christian (%) | 58.2 | 57.5 | 57.2 | 56.3 | 55.8 |
| Other religion or belief (%) | 5.9 | 3.4 | 3.6 | 3.9 | 3.9 |
| No religion or belief (%) | 36.0 | 36.7 | 37.0 | 37.8 | 38.4 |
| Prefer to self-describe (%) | * | 2.3 | 2.2 | 2.0 | 2.0 |
For further figures on the individual religion and beliefs within ‘Other religion or belief’, please see ODS Excel, Table 4.1.
Christian: Includes personnel who self-identify their religion as any Christian denomination or following a religion which follows a Christian tradition.
Other religion or belief: Includes all personnel who self-identify their religion or belief as any which is not Christian. This includes those who have self-identified as Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh or any other religion or belief which is not Christian.
No religion or belief: Includes personnel who have self-identified as having no religion or any other beliefs.
Prefer to self-describe: Includes personnel who have self-identified as having a religion or belief not covered within standard belief groups.
Age Group Distribution
Over two thirds of those who have reported a religion or belief of Christianity are aged 50 and above, 42.9% are aged 50 to 59 and 29.3% are aged 60 and over (figure 5). There was a higher proportion of those aged 16 to 29 up to 40 to 49 declaring another religion or belief compared to the equivalent Christian population. The ages of personnel reporting no religion or belief are equally spread across all bands, with the lowest representation in those aged 60 and over (8.9%).
Figure 5 – Religion and belief by age group distribution, 1 October 2023
Grade Band Distribution
The distribution of grades was broadly similar amongst all religion or belief groups. For further information on religion or belief and grade, please see ODS Excel, table 4.3.
Disability Representation
The proportion of MOD main civilian personnel who have declared themselves as disabled is 13.8%.
Please note, the methodology for reporting disability status was updated following a data extract error from HR systems, which resulted in the under-reporting of personnel with a declared disability. This has resulted in an increase in the disability representation rate at 1 October 2023 by 1.9% compared to 1 April 2023.
In the period 1 October 2021 to 1 October 2023, the rate of MOD main civilian personnel recording an active disability status declaration has reduced by 10.6% (table 6). It is important to note that, to ensure meaningful representation rates for a diversity field, a minimum of 60% declaration level is required.
Table 6 – Declaration and Representation of Disability Status of MOD main civilian personnel, 1 October 2021 to 1 October 2023
| October 21 | April 22 | October 22 | April 23 | October 23 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 37,765 | 37,082 | 36,751 | 37,621 | 38,116 |
| Disabled | 3,491 | 3,212 | 3,091 | 3,131 | 3,520 |
| Not Disabled | 25,276 | 24,948 | 23,663 | 23,263 | 21,944 |
| Prefer not to say | 2,703 | [x] | [x] | [x] | 2,393 |
| Unknown | 5,845 | 8,922 | 9,997 | 11,227 | 10,259 |
| Declaration Rate (%) | 77.4 | 75.9 | 72.8 | 70.2 | 66.8 |
| Disabled Representation Proportion (%) | 11.9 | 11.4 | 11.6 | 11.9 | 13.8 |
[x] Not available for listed period.
Age Group Distribution
Figure 6a shows that the largest proportion of personnel with a declared disability are aged 50 to 59 (40.1%). The distribution of age is similar between between those declaring a disability and those declaring no disability.
The age distribution is notably different for personnel with no declared disability status, with an even spread across age bands. Any potential change of civilian personnel moving from unknown disability status to an active disability declaration may impact the current presentation of age group distributions.
Figure 6a – Disability status by age group distribution, 1 October 2023
Grade Band Distribution
The distribution of grades was broadly similar amongst those personnel with a declared disability and those with no disability (figure 6b).
Figure 6b – Disability status by grade distribution, 1 October 2023
Full Time and Part-Time Representation
Full time: Civil servants are those working 37 hours a week, excluding breaks.
Part-time: Civil servants are those working fewer than 37 hours a week, excluding breaks.
The proportion of MOD main civilian personnel who are working part-time is 10.4%. Between 1 October 2021 and 1 October 2023, the proportion of personnel working part-time has fallen from 10.8% in October 2021 to 10.1 at 1 October 2022. This has since increased (table 7).
Table 7 – Part-time representation of MOD Main civilian personnel, 1 October 2021 to 1 October 2023
| October 21 | April 22 | October 22 | April 23 | October 23 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Headcount | 4,097 | 3,865 | 3,712 | 3,827 | 3,967 |
| Proportion of total (%) | 10.8 | 10.4 | 10.1 | 10.2 | 10.4 |
Age Group Distribution
Of those MOD main personnel working part-time, only 2.5% are aged 16 to 29, while 79.4% are aged 40 to 49 and above, and 29.8% are aged 60 and over (figure 7a).
Figure 7a – Working pattern by age group distribution, 1 October 2023
Grade Band Distribution
The distribution of grade across both working patterns were broadly similar (figure 7b). In grades AA to AO, there was a higher proportion of personnel working part-time with 36.7% in comparison to full time with 29.6%.
Figure 7b – Working pattern by grade distribution, 1 October 2023
Glossary
Navy Command: A MOD Main Top Level Budgetary Area (TLB) for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines. As at 1 April 2010 Fleet TLB was renamed to Navy Command. Fleet TLB was formed on 1 April 2006 by the merger of the Commander-in-Chief Fleet and the Chief of Naval Personnel/ Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command.
Army TLB: A MOD Main Top Level Budgetary Area (TLB) for the army (previously reported as Land Forces). Performs a similar role to Navy Command within the context of trained army formations and equipment.
HQ Air Command: A MOD Main Top Level Budgetary Area (TLB) for the Royal Air Force (RAF). Incorporates the RAF’s Personnel and Training Command and Strike Command with a single fully integrated Headquarters, which equips the RAF to provide a coherent and coordinated single Air focus to the other Services, MOD Head Office, the Permanent Joint Headquarters and the rest of MOD.
Head Office & Corporate Services: A MOD Main Top Level Budgetary Area (TLB). Established as at 1 April 2012. Lead areas of activity include Senior Finance Office (SFO) are responsible for ensuring that decisions are taken with due regard to affordability and value for money, acting as Head of Establishment for London HO Buildings and associated support requirements, Production of the Department’s Resource Accounts and Governance support for MOD Trading Funds.
UK Strategic Command: A MOD Main Top Level Budgetary Area (TLB). Established at 1 April 2012 to ensure that a range of military support functions covering medical services, training and education, intelligence and cyber are organised in an efficient and effective manner to support success on operations, supporting investment in joint capabilities, strengthening the links between operational theatres and top level decision making. As of October 2019 JFC changed their official title to UKStratcom.
Defence Infrastructure Organisation: A MOD Main Top Level Budgetary Area (TLB). Established on 1 April 2011, DIO manages the military estate, including accommodation for Service personnel and their families, on behalf of the MOD. It replaced Defence Estates and includes TLB property and facilities management functions previously situated within other TLBs.
Defence Nuclear Organisation: A MOD Main Top Level Budgetary Area (TLB). Established 1 April 2016. The MOD organisation that oversees all defence nuclear business, this includes investments for future nuclear submarines and for dismantling and disposal.
Further Information
Declaration Rates
‘Ethnicity’, ‘Sexual Orientation’, ‘Religion or Belief’, and ‘Disability’ are based on self-declaration. Each member of personnel can choose from the following options:
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One of the available diversity data fields (an active declaration)
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Choose not to declare (no declaration)
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No response (no declaration)
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Prefer to self-describe (text field option to self-describe)
Declaration Rate is the number of personnel who make an ‘active declaration’ as a proportion of the total personnel, including prefer to self-describe. To ensure meaningful representation rates for a diversity field, a minimum 60% declaration level is required.
Representation Rates
Representation rates are calculated from the number of personnel within an ‘active declaration’ that select a particular active diversity as a proportion of the total personnel within ‘active declaration’. An active declaration excludes unknown or undeclared records. To ensure meaningful representation rates for a diversity field, a minimum 60% declaration level is required to allow calculation of representation rates.
Prefer to self-describe is included within calculation for active declarations.
For example, from 100 personnel, 80 personnel declare as either disabled or not disabled, and the remaining 20 select Choose Not to Declare or no option selected, this produces a declaration rate of 80%. Of the 80, 8 declare as disabled, and 72 as not disabled, this produces a representation rate of 10% for disabled personnel. If representation was calculated across whole population including the 20 undeclared, representation rate would be calculated as 8% and understated.
Table 9 - Declaration rates, as at 1 October 2021 to 1 October 2023
| October 21 | April 22 | October 22 | April 23 | October 23 | ppt change * | 12 Month Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ethnicity | 86.7 | 86.2 | 84.8 | 84.3 | 82.5 | -4.1 | -2.3 |
| Sexual Orientation | 78.9 | 78.5 | 77.0 | 76.5 | 75.3 | -3.5 | -1.7 |
| Religion or Belief | 76.8 | 77.4 | 76.3 | 76.2 | 74.7 | -2.0 | -1.6 |
| Disability | 77.4 | 75.9 | 72.8 | 70.2 | 66.8 | -10.6 | -6.0 |
In the period 1 October 2021 to 1 October 2023 the proportion of active declarations has fallen (table 8), personnel still retain the option to positively opt-out of providing details by selecting ‘Choose not to declare/Prefer not to say’.
* ppt change for 2021 – 2023
Grade Structures
Since 1 April 1996 all departments and agencies have had delegated responsibility for the pay and grading of their employees, except for those in the Senior Civil Service (SCS). As of February 2022 following the implementation of the MYHR personnel system, MOD main TLB elements of the department are again reporting Civil Service wide grade structure.
The civil service-wide grades here are shown against levels broadly equivalent (in terms of pay and job weight) to the former MOD grades.
| Civil Service grades | Former MOD grades |
|---|---|
| SCS – Senior Civil Service | SCS – Senior Civil Service |
| Grade 6 | B1 & equivalents |
| Grade 7 | B2 & equivalents |
| SEO - Senior Executive Officer | C1 & equivalents |
| HEO - Higher Executive Officer | C2 & equivalents |
| EO - Executive Officer | D & equivalents |
| AO - Administrative Officer | E1 & equivalents |
| AA - Administrative Assistant | E2 & equivalents |
Rounding
Analysis Civilian have reviewed the rounding of figures within these tables. From 1 October 2023 onwards, for ease of analysis, values are presented as unrounded values.
Percentages and related change in percentage points across time periods are calculated from unrounded data and rounded to one decimal place.
Revisions
Occasionally errors can occur in statistical processes; procedures are constantly reviewed to minimise this risk. Should a significant error be found, the publication on the website will be updated and an errata slip published documenting the revision.
Protected Characteristics
All Protected Characteristics are analysed and reported on against the relevant Minority grouping, defining Minority on a numeric basis as the smaller or smallest of two or more groups forming a whole, rather than any broader cultural or sociological definition relating to characteristics of groups.
For reported Protected Characteristics, the following elements form the numeric minority:
| Sex - Female |
| Ethnicity - Ethnic minorities (excluding white minorities) |
| Sexual Orientation - LGB |
| Religion or Belief - Christian and Other religion or belief |
| Disability Status - Disabled |
| Work Status - Part-Time |
Further information relating to the Public Sector Equality Duty can be found at:
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