Over 33,000 people applied to join the Northern Ireland Civil Service

Date published: 26 March 2026

New official statistics published today by NISRA statisticians in the Department of Finance show the profile of people who took part in Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) recruitment competitions that fully completed between January and December 2025.

Key findings

• 139 recruitment competitions for permanent NICS posts completed in 2025. These had attracted 33,477 valid applications, and by 31 December 2025, a total of 4,073 people had been appointed.
• The competition for Executive Officer I posts attracted the highest number of applicants of any single competition, with 11,013 valid applications received.
• 15 competitions for senior roles (Grade 5 and above) completed in 2025. These had attracted 328 valid applications, resulting in 23 appointments.
• One competition for temporary posts completed during 2025, with 582 valid applications and 97 appointments made.
• Women made up 51% of eligible applicants for permanent posts and 48% of those appointed, broadly reflecting their share of the working-age population in Northern Ireland.
• Catholic applicants made up 49% of eligible applicants for permanent posts, while Protestant applicants made up 42%. Among those appointed, 51% were Catholic and 42% were Protestant — closely in line with the working-age population (47% Catholic, 44% Protestant, based on Census 2021).
• People who declared a disability made up around 10% of eligible applicants and 9% of those appointed, compared with 10% of the working-age population.
• Just over two thirds (67.5%) of people appointed to permanent posts were already working in the Civil Service when they applied.

About this publication

This report provides a high-level statistical summary, from an equality perspective, of the recruitment of staff to the NICS through competitions which closed to further activity during 2025.

The report compares the profile of applicants and appointees at different stages in recruitment competitions.

Further information

For the full report: Recruitment in the Northern Ireland Civil Service

View background information: Analysis of NICS Recruitment Competitions 2025