Councils in Scotland

Local Authorities in Scotland [Councils] are one of the largest employers there is [256,030 people at 2021] and have a combined income of around £17.7 billion as at 2018/19.

In 2021, research found that Scotland's 32 Councils employed 256,030 people. Of these 6,347 were disabled people [2.39% of the total], 4,017 [1.52%] identified as Black Minority Ethnic people, 17,356 [6.55%] identified as Catholic people, and 2,355 [0.89%] identified as Lesbian, Gay or Bi-sexual people.

Most Councils set their workforce equality goal as having a workforce which reflected the community they serve. Using Census 2011 data, Councils should employ 45,533 more disabled people than they do. In the case of people from a BME background, they should employ 5,828 more people from a BME background than they currently do. When the workforce is profiled in terms of Catholic people it is found that Councils should employ more 24,738 more Catholic people than they currently do.

All Council chief executives and Council leaders are aware of these data sets. None of them have indicated plans for any major changes in their workplace cultures and practices to eliminate the discrimination which the data suggests must be present.

The Scottish Government's Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government has also been made aware of the data sets. The government has no plans to require Councils in Scotland to introduce the major changes required to deliver workplaces where employment equality can be evidenced.