Councils in England, Wales Lose Nearly 600,000 Jobs Since 2012

A GMB union study has revealed that nearly 600,000 council jobs have been lost across England and Wales since 2012, with employment in local authorities dropping from around 1.89 million to 1.29 million. The hardest-hit regions include Birmingham, Derbyshire, and Staffordshire, while Wales and the South East have also faced significant staff reductions, with councils such as Rhondda Cynon Taff and Surrey losing over 20% and almost 40% of their workforce, respectively. Union representatives attribute these losses to years of austerity, warning of deep and lasting damage to essential public services such as education, waste collection, and the maintenance of green spaces. The job cuts come amid ongoing negotiations between unions and the Local Government Association (LGA) over pay, with workers facing increasing pressures from the rising cost of living. The LGA acknowledges the critical role of council staff in maintaining vital services and warns that continued staff shortages could undermine the government's ability to deliver on key policy objectives. Both unions and council representatives call for increased government investment to address workforce challenges and safeguard local services.