Sector Guides: Public Services: Public sector

Roles in the public sector

The public sector is made up of local government and government agencies. Unlike civil servants, who are employees of the state, public sector employees work for independent government organisations eg. police, fire service, health, education, transport, infrastructure etc. The roles in this sector are diverse and wide-ranging.

See the Related sectors box for careers in the Civil Service and guides on teaching, law enforcement and security, and social work for extensive information about these sectors.

Civil service administrator
Performing administrative duties within the Civil Service or local government
Local government officer
Developing policies and procedures within local government
Historic buildings inspector/Conservation officer
Advise on and promote the conservation of historic buildings, structures and areas of special historic, architectural, or artistic interest.
Town planner
Involved in the management and development of cities, towns, villages and the countryside.
Social worker
Supporting and safeguarding vulnerable people and children

Schemes to increase diversity in the public sector

Civil Service Summer Internship Programme
Paid 6-9 week internship programme for second year students with disabilities or from BAME or socially disadvantaged backgrounds

Related sectors

The following sectors may also be of interest: