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The Civil Service is keen to achieve a more diverse workforce and recruit the richest possible mix of talent. By respecting and valuing differences we shall be better able to ensure that our policies and services respond to the needs of the society we serve. The Cabinet Office is responsible for ensuring that the Civil Service as a whole achieves greater representation at senior levels of ethnic minority staff, women and staff with disabilities, and that it values and utilises the diverse skills, experiences and cultural and socio-economic backgrounds of all civil servants.
Overall
In 2008 the proportion of applications from women fell very slightly to 44.5 per cent from 45.7 per cent in 2007; but the proportion of successful women candidates rose to 48.2 per cent, from 45 per cent in 2007.
In the Graduate Fast Stream, 46.5 per cent of applicants and 52.7 per cent of successful candidates were women. [See Chart 2]
The Analysis by Gender table [PDF 72KB, 4 pages] shows the success of applicants by gender at each stage of the Fast Stream selection process.
Overall, 4.3 per cent of female applicants were successful, compared with 3.7 per cent of male applicants.
Overall, the proportion of applications from ethnic minority groups rose to 14.9 per cent, from 13.5 per cent in 2007. The proportion of successful candidates from ethnic minority groups fell very slightly to 9.3 per cent, from 9.5 per cent in 2007. [See Chart 3] In the Graduate Fast Stream, 14.1 per cent of applicants, and 6.6 per cent of successful candidates, were from an ethnic minority.
The Analysis by Ethnicity table [PDF 69KB, 4 pages] shows the success of applicants by ethnicity at each stage of the Fast Stream selection process.
Overall, 2.5 per cent of ethnic minority applicants were successful, compared with 4.2 per cent of white applicants.
Overall, the percentage of applicants who consider themselves disabled as defined by the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 increased to 5.1 per cent, from 3.6 per cent in 2007. The proportion of successful disabled candidates increased to 12.6 per cent, from 8.7 per cent in 2007.
In the Graduate Fast Stream, 5.1 per cent of applicants were disabled, compared with 3.7 per cent in 2007. A total of 465 disabled candidates requested and were granted exemption from the online test. Of successful Graduate Fast Stream candidates, 16.2 per cent were disabled; an increase from 12 per cent in 2007.
The Analysis by Disability table [PDF 71KB, 4 pages] shows the success of disabled applicants at each stage of the Fast Stream selection process.
Overall, 9.8 per cent of disabled applicants were recommended for appointment, compared with 3.6 per cent of non-disabled applicants.
The median date of birth of applicants was October 1984, and the median date of birth of successful candidates was October 1983. Candidates are not required to declare their age, but of those who did the oldest successful candidate was born in March 1968. 1
Applications for the 2008 Fast Stream came from about 100 UK universities and a wide range of academic backgrounds. Successful candidates came from over 50 different universities. Overall, applications from Oxford and Cambridge Universities were 12.3 per cent of the total (the same as in 2007); while the proportion of successful candidates from those Universities fell to 29.1 per cent from 31.3 per cent in 2007.
The most common degree disciplines (accounting for 56 per cent of applicants) amongst successful Graduate Fast Stream candidates were Humanities and Social Science. The Analysis by University table [PDF 67KB, 3 pages] lists the universities of first degree of applicants and successful candidates in each Fast Stream scheme.
The Analysis by Degree Type table [PDF 63KB, 1 page] lists the degree types of applicants and successful candidates, using the categories of the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
The Fast Stream Diversity Trends tables [PDF 64KB, 2 pages] show diversity trends in the Fast Stream as a whole since 1998.
Chart 5 shows the number of applicants by gender to the Fast Stream as a whole since 1998.
The Graduate Fast Stream Diversity Trends tables [PDF 66KB, 2 pages] show diversity trends in the Graduate Fast Stream since 1998.