Jersey's external workforce spending falls again

Money spent by the government on temporary workers and consultancy fees in the first half of 2026 has fallen by more than £22m compared with 2023.

In a new report, the Government of Jersey revealed it had spent £16.7m on consultants, contingency workers, and agency staff from January to June, down 58% from £39.6m during the same period three years ago.

However, the amount spent on contingency workers alone, such as non-permanent workers of contractors, had jumped from £4.6m in the first half of 2025 to £6.2m this year, the report said.

The government said this was down to attempts to "improve cyber security, modernise critical systems and to replace ageing infrastructure".

The overall reduction is part of plans by the government to reduce its reliance on external resources and "deliver a leaner and less complex sector with lower running costs".

It defended the use of external workers, saying the resource provided "short-term flexibility and capacity in frontline services", as, without them, there would be "significant consequences for the public".

Earlier this year, the government revealed it had cut annual spending on external workforce from £82.8m in 2023 to £38m in 2025.

If the decline were to continue at a similar rate, the government would be spending even less in 2026.

Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham said: "Making this saving of almost 60% reflects the continuing focus we have on tightening control of public spending.

"This is about building a stronger and more cost-effective public service with greater in-house capability to provide the services Islanders rely on every day."

On the increase in contingency worker spend, the government's report emphasised the need to update its digital infrastructure.

It said: "These programmes require specialist skills that are not readily available within the permanent workforce and are time-limited in nature.

"Whilst this has increased expenditure in the short-term, the work is intended to reduce operational risk and improve the sustainability of government systems over the longer term."

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