📈 Civil service headcount sees 4.6% increase in Q3 2023

The number of civil servants grew by 203, or 4.6%, between September 2022 and September 2023, reaching a total of 4,629, according to the Economics and Statistics Office’s Third Quarter Economic Report 2023. This increase coincides with a significant rise in work permits, which saw an 11.6% increase compared to the third quarter of 2022, reaching a total of 36,079. More recent figures indicate that the number of work permits has further increased to a record-breaking 36,972. 📊

The report also revealed that the number of non-Caymanian civil servants has risen by 13.4% from 2022, reaching 1,436, while the number of Caymanian civil servants grew by just 1% to 3,193. The Cayman Islands Government spent over CI$323.6 million on salaries and benefits for core government staff in the third quarter of 2023, marking a 7.6% increase from 2022. This increase was attributed to a $15.9 million rise in salaries and wages, a $5.1 million increase in healthcare expenses, and an additional $800,000 in government pension expenses. 📈

Looking ahead to the 2024/2025 budget, the Cayman Islands Government plans to spend over one billion dollars annually on staff salaries, benefits, and other costs. This budget will accommodate an increase in the number of teachers, police officers, and staff in other uniform services, as well as additional personnel for both the promotion and regulation of the financial services industry. 💰