The public sector is going through unprecedented change –
a trend we've looked to capture in our annual State of the
State reports, which have analysed the many ways this is
happening: from digital transformation and people power, to the
challenges of productivity and citizen engagement.
This year, though, the rate of change went up several notches,
helped on its way by the inexorable rise of technology and the
UK's decision to leave the European Union (EU): the two main
themes in our 2016/2017 edition of
State of the State. The consequences of both of these
developments could be huge for our public services, presenting many
opportunities and challenges to be overcome.
The headlines speak for themselves: our research, with academics
from Oxford University, suggests that around 88,000 Scottish public
sector jobs could be lost to automation over the course of the next
14 years – equivalent to one in six positions, mainly in
administrative and operative functions.
