9 in-demand jobs for public sector job seekers

If you're socially motivated and passionate about making a difference, a career in public services might be for you. Here are nine public sector jobs for you to consider, from roles in the Civil Service to those in politics

Public sector jobs explained

Organisations that are run by the government and funded by tax-payers money belong to the public sector, and at their heart, public service careers are all about looking after the nations wellbeing.
Opportunities span a range of roles, often overlapping with other job sectors - from working for central and local government, to careers in聽teaching,听healthcare,听social care,听transport听补苍诲听law enforcement and security.
If job security is a big factor when considering your career, working in public services is a smart move. Because jobs in the public sector are backed by the government, they're more stable than those in the private sector. This stability means people can, and often do, build lifelong careers in public services.
At the start of your graduate job, retirement might sound like a long way off, but public sector workers are also rewarded for their service with impressive pension packages, which often outweigh those offered by private sector employers.

Examples of public sector jobs

joining the聽armed forces听辞谤 the聽police
working within the NHS or emergency services - as a doctor, nurse, paramedic or firefighter for instance聽
teaching聽in schools as primary or secondary teachers, or in higher education institutions as higher education lecturers.
working as a聽social worker.

Civil Service Fast Streamer

With 17 pathways to choose from, including HR, science and engineering, and digital, data and technology, there are plenty of routes to becoming a Fast Streamer on the Civil Service's accelerated leadership development programme.

Open to anyone, irrespective of their age, background or degree subject, these full-time roles train you to become a senior leader within the Civil Service.

You'll be expected to carry out work specific to the stream chosen, quickly developing an understanding of a topic or issue, while formulating and implementing policy.

Benefits include a starting salary of 拢31,186, with the potential to earn up to 拢55,000 upon completion of the scheme.

Discover what else it takes to be selected as a Civil Service Fast Streamer.

Diplomatic service officer

Representing the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), diplomatic service officers are tasked with protecting and promoting the interests of the country, while supporting British citizens and organisations across the globe.

This public sector position involves the administration of diplomacy overseas, so you'll be expected to tackle key issues such as human rights, international trade and counterterrorism. This could be through drafting and proofreading written reports, organising diplomatic visits and dealing with public enquiries.

By entering this public service career through the Civil Service Fast Stream, where you'll be expected to achieve a 2:2 in any degree subject, you'll start on 拢28,000, with this potentially rising to 拢48,000 within five years.

Explore the role of a diplomatic service officer, while other civil servant jobs include becoming a Civil Service administrator.

Environmental health practitioner

Responsible for ensuring that the environments where people live and work meet all required wellbeing and safety standards, you could work for a local authority, a government agency such as the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) or the National Health Service (NHS).

To become a qualified environmental health practitioner (EHP), you'll need to achieve an undergraduate or Masters degree in environmental health that's accredited by the聽Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH).

Once qualified, you can choose to specialise in a particular area such as housing, food safety, environmental protection or public health. Starting salaries are between 拢25,000 and 拢40,000, with this varying according to the local authority and area of work.

Learn more about the role of an environmental health practitioner and consider public heath careers.

Joining the Civil Service's Government Social Research (GSR) profession you'll get to work on research projects that help to support and inform decisions on government policy that affect individuals, groups and society as a whole.

Government social research officers work closely with civil servants and other professionals to interpret data and present findings.

The GSR Fast Stream is an accelerated development scheme that takes on graduates with a social science background. For the degree to qualify (at either undergraduate or postgraduate level), at least a third (30%) of it needs to be focused on social research methods, in addition to other criteria.

Entry-level research officers start at 拢25,000 to 拢30,000, while graduates entering through the fast stream can expect 拢31,000. You can earn 拢45,000 to 拢55,000 after four to five years.

Get the lowdown on becoming a government social research officer.

Intelligence analyst

This public sector job helps to keep the UK secure against serious organised crime through the assessment and interpretation of secret intelligence data. You鈥檒l most likely work for one of the nation's three intelligence and security agencies - Government Communication Headquarters (GCHQ), Security Service (MI5) or the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS/MI6).

With a starting salary of 拢37,281 to 拢40,303, you'll work at the main office of one of the agencies, with some roles expecting you to spend time overseas.

Each agency has its own entry requirements, and roles are generally open to graduates of any discipline. However, you'll need to show excellent problem-solving ability, an aptitude for analysis and good report-drafting skills.

Explore what it's like to work as an intelligence analyst and read about the full range of intelligence services careers for graduates.

Local government officer

With a job as a local government officer, you'll be given responsibility for the delivery of a specific public service such as:

housing
the environment
regeneration
transport.

You'll work closely with administrators, councilors, other local authority specialists and members of the public. This public service job involves formulating, planning and monitoring policies and procedures, attending meetings and coordinating communication strategies through publications or the council website.

This office-based role is available across the UK, in most large towns and cities, with customer service, planning and negotiation skills often considered more important than the subject you studied at university. A relevant聽HND听辞谤 foundation degree can also lead to an entry-level administration position in public services, with the potential for progression into more senior roles.

Find out more about working as a local government officer.

Policy officer

Policy graduate jobs are wide ranging, as you could decide to work for local or central government, a think tank, charity, or any number of public and private sector organisations.

Irrespective of your employer, as a policy officer your main duties will involve undertaking research and gathering and analysing data that will aid decision-makers in developing and shaping policy to bring about change.

You'll also evaluate policy proposals and offer advice on potential outcomes - for example, in a government role, your findings could be presented to a Member of Parliament (MP).

A degree in social policy, public administration or politics may be useful for landing a job as a policy officer in this competitive field, although this depends on the role and the specialist area you choose to work in.

Get an idea of the salary and person specifications for a policy officer.

Political risk analyst

In a fast-paced role where you'll be tasked with responding to complex and ever-changing international developments, a political risk analyst needs to have a keen interest in politics and current affairs.

The issues you'll be tasked with collecting information and trends on could range from cyber security to conflict and human rights.

As well as being employed by governments and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), you can also find work in the private sector to inform business and investment decisions.

Gaining relevant work experience is essential if you want to get into this competitive field, so read about the various routes to becoming a political risk analyst.

Politician's assistant

Also known as a parliamentary or constituency assistant, an executive officer or a personal assistant (PA), a politician's assistant plays a key behind-the-scenes role for an MP, Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) or Member of the Welsh or Northern Ireland Assembly.

Providing administrative support to the elected politician you're working for, it's your job to assist with secretarial tasks, publicity and research so they're able to fully represent those within their constituency.

A passion for politics and current affairs in addition to relevant work experience is more important than qualifications if you're hoping to enter this field. You could shadow a politician, secure an internship or volunteer with a think tank or NGO.

If you decide a job as a politician's assistant is for you, discover what it's like working for an MP.

Other public service and admin careers

Find out more

Discover the 7 skills for a successful career in public services.
Consider how to get a graduate job in public services.
Explore administration jobs.

9 public sector jobs for graduates