Corporate report

Civil Service Fast Stream: recruitment data 2025 (HTML)

Published 25 September 2025

Fast Stream recruitment by scheme, all applicants, 2025

Table 1

Category	Vacancies[footnote 1]	Registration	Applications by any preference[footnote 2]	Applications by 1st preference	Recommended for appointment	Success rate[footnote 3]
All schemes	676	84,003	251,344	72,691	754	1.0%
Commercial	30	3,437	17,236	3,302	30	0.9%
Cyber Security	11	7,661	19,100	7,386	12	0.2%
Digital	42	6,270	20,229	6,047	58	1.0%
Diplomatic and Development[footnote 4]	40	14,118	25,909	13,828	28	0.2%
Finance	32	4,555	12,619	4,417	42	1.0%
Government Economics Service	43	1,184	3,200	1,164	50	4.3%
Government Operational Research Service	38	720	4,053	708	46	6.5%
Government Policy	199	10,542	32,805	10,315	217	2.1%
Government Social Research Service	16	3,573	11,100	3,487	21	0.6%
Government Statistical Service	45	1,081	4,226	1,057	47	4.4%
Human Resources	30	7,268	20,954	7,018	36	0.5%
Operational Delivery	36	3,305	20,449	3,179	37	1.2%
Project Delivery	51	4,583	26,847	4,435	61	1.4%
Property	17	1,609	9,727	1,546	20	1.3%
Risk Management	11	1,829	17,377	1,756	11	0.6%
Science and Engineering	35	3,147	5,513	3,046	38	1.2%
Scheme not selected		9,121		0

Source: Cabinet Office - Fast Stream Application Tracking System

Fast Stream recruitment by diversity characteristics, all applicants, 2025

Table 2

Category	Registrations Number	Registrations % known	Applications1 Number	Applications[footnote 5] % known	Recommended for appointment Number	Recommended for appointment % known	Success rate[footnote 6]
All applicants	84,003		72,691		754		1.0%
Gender
Male	34,513	47.5%	33,754	47.6%	362	50.1%	1.1%
Female	37,853	52.1%	36,858	52.0%	358	49.5%	1.0%
Other	303	0.4%	295	0.4%	*	-	-
I don’t know/prefer not to say/non-respondent	11,334		1,784		**		-
Ethnicity
White	40,044	56.6%	39,174	56.7%	513	71.8%	1.3%
Ethnic minority	30,753	43.4%	29,928	43.3%	201	28.2%	0.7%
I don’t know/prefer not to say/non-respondent	13,206		3,589		40		1.1%
Disability
Non-disabled	59,463	84.6%	57,856	84.6%	569	81.1%	1.0%
Disabled	10,853	15.4%	10,565	15.4%	133	18.9%	1.3%
I don’t know/prefer not to say/non-respondent	13,687		4,270		52		1.2%
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual	57,282	83.6%	55,833	83.6%	457	71.5%	0.8%
Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Other	11,197	16.4%	10,974	16.4%	182	28.5%	1.7%
I don’t know/prefer not to say/non-respondent	15,524		5,884		115		2.0%
Socio-economic background
Higher managerial, administrative and professional occupations	38,010	60.2%	37,377	60.2%	477	72.6%	1.3%
Intermediate occupations	11,893	18.8%	11,677	18.8%	85	12.9%	0.7%
Routine and manual occupations[footnote 7]	13,276	21.0%	13,008	21.0%	95	14.5%	0.7%
Non-respondent/Non-working	20,824		10,629		97		0.9%

Source: Cabinet Office - Fast Stream Application Tracking System

Notes:

*Primary suppression due to small sample size (groups with fewer than five members).

**Secondary suppression due to a primary suppressed value being deducible from other values in the table.

Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

Fast Stream recruitment by ethnic group, all applicants, 2025

Table 3

Category	Applicaitons[footnote 5] Number	Applicaitons[footnote 5] % known	Recommended for appointment Number	Recommended for appointment % known	Success rate[footnote 6]
All applicants	72,691		754		1.0%
White - British	34,646	50.1%	460	64.4%	1.3%
White - Gypsy or Irish Traveller	23	0.0%	*	-	-
White - Irish	915	1.3%	6	0.8%	0.7%
White - Any Other White Background	3,590	5.2%	47	6.6%	1.3%
Asian or Asian British - Bangladeshi	2,368	3.4%	13	1.8%	0.5%
Asian or Asian British - Chinese	680	1.0%	15	2.1%	2.2%
Asian or Asian British - Indian	4,415	6.4%	55	7.7%	1.2%
Asian or Asian British - Pakistani	3,622	5.2%	19	2.7%	0.5%
Asian or Asian British - Any other Asian background	1,611	2.3%	16	2.2%	1.0%
Black or Black British - African	10,592	15.3%	20	2.8%	0.2%
Black or Black British - Caribbean	849	1.2%	*	-	-
Black or Black British - Any other Black background	407	0.6%	*	-	-
Mixed - White and Asian	1,409	2.0%	25	3.5%	1.8%
Mixed - White and Black African	1,141	1.7%	6	0.8%	0.5%
Mixed - White and Black Caribbean	632	0.9%	8	1.1%	1.3%
Mixed - Any other Mixed background	1,157	1.7%	14	2.0%	1.2%
Other - Arab	463	0.7%	*	-	-
Any other ethnic background	582	0.8%	5	0.7%	0.9%
I don’t know/prefer not to say	3,589		40		1.1%

Source: Cabinet Office - Fast Stream Application Tracking System

Notes:

*Primary suppression due to small sample size (groups with fewer than five members).

Fast Stream recruitment by socio-economic background, all applicants, 2025

Table 4

Category	Registrations Number	Registrations % known	Applicaitons[footnote 5] Number	Applicaitons[footnote 5] % known	Recommended for appointment Number	Recommended for appointment % known	Success rate[footnote 6]
All applicants	84,003		72,691		754		1.0%
Type of school attended
State-run or state-funded school, non-selective	32,006	59.2%	31,384	59.2%	297	48.1%	0.9%
State-run or state-funded school - Selective on academic, faith or other grounds	14,973	27.7%	14,697	27.7%	165	26.7%	1.1%
Independent or fee-paying school - Bursary	1,710	3.2%	1,686	3.2%	33	5.3%	2.0%
Independent or fee-paying school - No Bursary	5,341	9.9%	5,258	9.9%	123	19.9%	2.3%
Don’t know/prefer not to say/non-respondent	29,973		19,666		136		0.7%
Eligibility for free school meals
Yes	12,745	25.9%	12,463	25.8%	97	16.7%	0.8%
No	36,515	74.1%	35,887	74.2%	484	83.3%	1.3%
Unknown/prefer not to say/non-respondent	34,743		24,341		173		0.7%
Parent/guardian highest educational qualification
Degree-level qualification	35,512	52.7%	34,931	52.7%	493	71.1%	1.4%
Qualifications below degree level	19,630	29.1%	19,256	29.1%	128	18.5%	0.7%
No formal qualification	12,294	18.2%	12,058	18.2%	72	10.4%	0.6%
Don’t know/prefer not to say/non-respondent	16,567		6,446		61		0.9%
Parent/guardian occupation
Higher managerial, administrative and professional occupations	38,010	60.2%	37,377	60.2%	477	72.6%	1.3%
Intermediate occupations	11,893	18.8%	11,677	18.8%	85	12.9%	0.7%
Routine and manual occupations[footnote 7]	13,276	21.0%	13,008	21.0%	95	14.5%	0.7%
Non-respondent/non-working	20,824		10,629		97		0.9%
Would you describe yourself as coming from a lower socio-economic background?
Yes	25,231	42.0%	24,765	41.9%	165	26.8%	0.7%
No	34,856	58.0%	34,282	58.1%	450	73.2%	1.3%
I don’t know/prefer not to say/non-respondent	23,916		13,644		139		1.0%

Source: Cabinet Office - Fast Stream Application Tracking System

Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

Fast Stream recruitment by educational background, all applicants, 2025

Table 5

Category	Applications[footnote 5] Number	Applications[footnote 5] % known	Recommended for appointment Number	Recommended for appointment % known	Success rate[footnote 6]
All applicants	72,691		754		1.0%
Undergraduate University
Oxbridge	2,425	3.5%	114	15.4%	4.7%
Russell Group, excluding Oxbridge[footnote 8]	23,757	34.6%	448	60.5%	1.9%
Other education provider[footnote 9]	42,565	61.9%	179	24.2%	0.4%
Non-respondents	3,944		13		0.3%
Degree Type
STEM Degree[footnote 10]	38,850	56.5%	438	59.1%	1.1%
Non-STEM degree[footnote 11]	29,899	43.5%	303	40.9%	1.0%
Non-respondents	3,942		13		0.3%

Source: Cabinet Office - Fast Stream Application Tracking System

Fast Stream recruitment by home location of applicant, all applicants, 2025

Table 6

Category	Applications[footnote 5] Number	Applications[footnote 5] % known	Recommended for appointment Number	Recommended for appointment % known	Success rate[footnote 6]
All applicants	72,691		754		1.0%
ITL 1 statistical region[footnote 12]
East Midlands (England)	4,135	5.7%	27	3.6%	0.7%
East of England	5,360	7.4%	66	8.8%	1.2%
London	16,609	23.1%	236	31.6%	1.4%
North East (England)	3,207	4.5%	23	3.1%	0.7%
North West (England)	8,337	11.6%	52	7.0%	0.6%
South East (England)	8,735	12.1%	128	17.1%	1.5%
South West (England)	4,133	5.7%	51	6.8%	1.2%
West Midlands (England)	6,363	8.8%	44	5.9%	0.7%
Yorkshire and the Humber	5,638	7.8%	51	6.8%	0.9%
Scotland	5,899	8.2%	46	6.2%	0.8%
Wales	2,469	3.4%	18	2.4%	0.7%
Northern Ireland	1,080	1.5%	*	-	-
Channel Islands	**	-	*	-	-
Isle of Man	*	-	*	-	-
Non-respondents	705		7		1.0%

Source: Cabinet Office - Fast Stream Application Tracking System

Notes:

*Primary suppression due to small sample size (groups with fewer than five members).

**Secondary suppression due to a primary suppressed value being deducible from other values in the table

Fast Stream recruitment by age of applicant, all applicants, 2025

Table 7

Category	Applications[footnote 5] Number	Applications[footnote 5] % known	Recommended for appointment Number	Recommended for appointment % known	Success rate[footnote 6]
All applicants	72,691		754		1.0%
Age
20 or under	4,731	6.5%	85	11.3%	1.8%
21-23	27,975	38.5%	406	53.8%	1.5%
24-26	13,834	19.0%	138	18.3%	1.0%
27-29	7,581	10.4%	64	8.5%	0.8%
30-39	12,173	16.7%	50	6.6%	0.4%
40+	6,397	8.8%	11	1.5%	0.2%

Source: Cabinet Office - Fast Stream Application Tracking System

Fast Stream recruitment by scheme, applicants external to Civil Service only, 2025

Table 8

Category	Vacancies[footnote 1]	Registrations	Applications[footnote 5]	Recommended for
appointment	Success rate[footnote 6]
External applicants	676	70,860	60,384	682	1.1%
Commercial	30	2,995	2,880	26	0.9%
Cyber Security	11	6,000	5,799	9	0.2%
Digital	42	5,053	4,885	50	1.0%
Diplomatic and Development[footnote 4]	40	12,572	12,329	24	0.2%
Finance	32	3,719	3,614	35	1.0%
Government Economics Service	43	1,144	1,125	48	4.3%
Government Operational Research Service	38	678	670	43	6.4%
Government Policy	199	9,055	8,871	204	2.3%
Government Social Research	16	3,333	3,254	20	0.6%
Government Statistical Service	45	1,015	993	45	4.5%
Human Resources	30	5,749	5,566	32	0.6%
Operational Delivery	36	1,493	1,440	32	2.2%
Project Delivery	51	3,440	3,340	49	1.5%
Property	17	1,263	1,212	18	1.5%
Risk Management	11	1,580	1,520	11	0.7%
Science and Engineering	35	2,979	2,886	36	1.2%
Scheme not selected		8,792

Source: Cabinet Office - Fast Stream Application Tracking System

Fast Stream recruitment by diversity characteristics, applicants external to Civil Service only, 2025

Table 9

Category	Registrations Number	Registrations % known	Applications[footnote 5] Number	Applications[footnote 5] % known	Recommended for appointment Number	Recommended for appointment % known	Success rate[footnote 6]
External applicants	70,860		60,384		682		1.1%
Gender
Male	28,586	47.4%	28,026	47.5%	314	48.1%	1.1%
Female	31,501	52.2%	30,731	52.1%	336	51.5%	1.1%
Other	255	0.4%	249	0.4%	*	-	-
Don’t know/prefer not to say/non-respondent	10,518		1,378		**		-
Ethnicity
White	33,366	56.7%	32,715	56.8%	469	72.5%	1.4%
Ethnic minority	25,523	43.3%	24,884	43.2%	178	27.5%	0.7%
I don’t know/prefer not to say/non-respondent	11,971		2,785		35		1.3%
Disability
Non-disabled	50,159	85.7%	48,902	85.7%	513	80.9%	1.0%
Disabled	8,342	14.3%	8,149	14.3%	121	19.1%	1.5%
I don’t know/prefer not to say/non-respondent	12,359		3,333		48		1.4%
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual	46,970	83.0%	45,881	82.9%	404	70.3%	0.9%
Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Other	9,647	17.0%	9,476	17.1%	171	29.7%	1.8%
I don’t know/prefer not to say/non-respondent	14,243		5,027		107		2.1%
Socio-economic background
Higher managerial, administrative and professional occupations	33,090	62.6%	32,591	62.6%	445	74.3%	1.4%
Intermediate occupations	9,624	18.2%	9,485	18.2%	73	12.2%	0.8%
Routine and manual occupations[footnote 7]	10,186	19.3%	10,027	19.2%	81	13.5%	0.8%
Non-respondent/Non-working	17,960		8,281		83		1.0%

Source: Cabinet Office - Fast Stream Application Tracking System

Notes:

*Primary suppression due to small sample size (groups with fewer than five members).

**Secondary suppression due to a primary suppressed value being deducible from other values in the table

Fast Stream recruitment by educational background, applicants external to Civil Service only, 2025

Table 10

Category	Applications[footnote 5] Number	Applications[footnote 5] % known	Recommended for appointment Number	Recommended for appointment % known	Success rate[footnote 6]
External applicants	60,384		682		1.1%
Undergraduate University
Oxbridge	2,319	3.8%	111	16.3%	4.8%
Russell Group, excluding Oxbridge[footnote 8]	22,161	36.7%	424	62.2%	1.9%
Other education provider[footnote 9]	35,904	59.5%	147	21.6%	0.4%
Degree Type
STEM degree[footnote 10]	34,457	57.1%	400	58.7%	1.2%
Non-STEM degree[footnote 11]	25,927	42.9%	282	41.3%	1.1%

Source: Cabinet Office - Fast Stream Application Tracking System

Fast Stream recruitment by diversity characteristics, internal Civil Service applicants only, 2025

Table 11

Category	Registrations Number	Registrations % known	Applications[footnote 5] Number	Applications[footnote 5] % known	Recommended for appointment Number	Recommended for appointment % known	Success rate[footnote 6]
Internal applicants	13,143		12,307		72		0.6%
Gender
Male	5,927	48.1%	5,728	48.1%	48	68.6%	0.8%
Female	6,352	51.5%	6,127	51.5%	22	31.4%	0.4%
Other	48	0.4%	46	0.4%	*	-	-
Don’t know/prefer not to say/non-respondent	816		406		*		-
Ethnicity
White	6,678	56.1%	6,459	56.2%	44	65.7%	0.7%
Ethnic minority	5,230	43.9%	5,044	43.8%	23	34.3%	0.5%
Non-respondents/Unknown	1,235		804		5		0.6%
Disability
Non-disabled	9,304	78.7%	8,954	78.8%	56	82.4%	0.6%
Disabled	2,511	21.3%	2,416	21.2%	12	17.6%	0.5%
I don’t know/prefer not to say/non-respondent	1,328		937		*		-
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual	10,312	86.9%	9,952	86.9%	53	82.8%	0.5%
Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Other	1,550	13.1%	1,498	13.1%	11	17.2%	0.7%
I don’t know/prefer not to say/non-respondent	1,281		857		8		0.9%
Socio-economic background
Higher managerial, administrative and professional occupations	4,920	47.9%	4,786	48.1%	32	55.2%	0.7%
Intermediate occupations	2,269	22.1%	2,192	22.0%	12	20.7%	0.5%
Routine and manual occupations[footnote 7]	3,090	30.1%	2,981	29.9%	14	24.1%	0.5%
Non-respondent/Non-working	2,864		2,348		14		0.6%

Source: Cabinet Office - Fast Stream Application Tracking System

Notes:

*Primary suppression due to small sample size (groups with fewer than five members).

Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

Fast Stream recruitment by age of applicant, internal Civil Service applicants only, 2025

Table 12

Category	Applications[footnote 5] Number	Applications[footnote 5] % known	Recommended for appointment Number	Recommended for appointment % known	Success rate[footnote 6]
Internal applicants	12,307		72		0.6%
Age
20 or under	147	1.2%	*	-	-
21-23	1,147	9.3%	18	25.4%	1.6%
24-26	2,338	19.0%	20	28.2%	0.9%
27-29	1,995	16.2%	14	19.7%	0.7%
30-39	3,942	32.0%	14	19.7%	0.4%
40+	2,738	22.2%	**	-	-

Source: Cabinet Office - Fast Stream Application Tracking System

Notes:

*Primary suppression due to small sample size (groups with fewer than five members).

**Secondary suppression due to a primary suppressed value being deducible from other values in the table.

Fast Stream recruitment by socio-economic background, internal Civil Service applicants only, 2025

Table 13

Category	Registrations Number	Registrations % known	Applications[footnote 5] Number	Applications[footnote 5] % known	Recommended for appointment Number	Recommended for appointment % known	Success rate[footnote 6]
Internal applicants	13,143		12,307		72		0.6%
Type of school attended
State-run or state-funded school, non-selective	5,803	64.6%	5,604	64.6%	36	63.2%	0.6%
State-run or state-funded school - Selective on academic, faith or other grounds	2,654	29.6%	2,561	29.5%	11	19.3%	0.4%
Independent or fee-paying school (Bursary and No Bursary)[footnote 13]	520	5.8%	511	5.9%	10	17.5%	2.0%
Don’t know/prefer not to say/non-respondent	4,166		3,631		15		0.4%
Eligibility for free school meals
Yes	2,974	36.5%	2,856	36.3%	14	29.8%	0.5%
No	5,169	63.5%	5,020	63.7%	33	70.2%	0.7%
Unknown/prefer not to say/non-respondent	5,000		4,431		25		0.6%
Parent/guardian highest educational qualification
Degree-level qualification	3,882	35.5%	3,760	35.5%	32	48.5%	0.9%
Qualifications below degree level	4,123	37.7%	4,007	37.8%	20	30.3%	0.5%
No formal qualification	2,936	26.8%	2,838	26.8%	14	21.2%	0.5%
Don’t know/prefer not to say/non-respondent	2,202		1,702		6		0.4%
Parent/guardian occupation
Higher managerial, administrative and professional occupations	4,920	47.9%	4,786	48.1%	32	55.2%	0.7%
Intermediate occupations	2,269	22.1%	2,192	22.0%	12	20.7%	0.5%
Routine and manual occupations[footnote 14]	3,090	30.1%	2,981	29.9%	14	24.1%	0.5%
Non-respondent/non-working	2,864		2,348		14		0.6%
Would you describe yourself as coming from a lower socio-economic background?
Yes	5,343	54.2%	5,169	54.0%	27	50.0%	0.5%
No	4,519	45.8%	4,397	46.0%	27	50.0%	0.6%
I don’t know/prefer not to say/non-respondent	3,281		2,741		18		0.7%

Source: Cabinet Office - Fast Stream Application Tracking System

Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

Summer Internship Programme (SIP) recruitment by diversity characteristics, 2025

Table 14

Category	Registrations Number	Registrations % known	Applications[footnote 15] Number	Applications[footnote 15] % known	Recommended for appointment Number	Recommended for appointment % known	Success rate[footnote 6]
All applicants	8,210		7,396		287		3.9%
Gender
Male	2,972	39.9%	2,884	39.8%	109	38.7%	3.8%
Female	4,442	59.6%	4,327	59.7%	170	60.3%	3.9%
Other	41	0.5%	39	0.5%	*	-	-
Don’t know/prefer not to say/non-respondent	755		146		**	-	-
Ethnicity
White	4,641	63.1%	4,527	63.2%	192	69.1%	4.2%
Ethnic minority	2,718	36.9%	2,633	36.8%	86	30.9%	3.3%
Non-respondents/Unknown	851		236		9		3.8%
Disability
Non-disabled	6,038	84.1%	5,861	84.2%	218	79.0%	3.7%
Disabled	1,138	15.9%	1,098	15.8%	58	21.0%	5.3%
I don’t know/prefer not to say/non-respondent	1,034		437		11		2.5%
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual	5,369	77.5%	5,223	77.5%	183	69.8%	3.5%
Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Other	1,558	22.5%	1,519	22.5%	79	30.2%	5.2%
I don’t know/prefer not to say/non-respondent	1,283		654		25		3.8%
Socio-economic background
Higher managerial, administrative and professional occupations	4,669	69.2%	4,586	69.4%	196	75.7%	4.3%
Intermediate occupations	998	14.8%	977	14.8%	32	12.4%	3.3%
Routine and manual occupations[footnote 7]	1,077	16.0%	1,047	15.8%	31	12.0%	3.0%
Non-respondent/Non-working	1,466		786		28		3.6%

Source: Cabinet Office - Fast Stream Application Tracking System

Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding

Notes:

*Primary suppression due to small sample size (groups with fewer than five members).

**Secondary suppression due to a primary suppressed value being deducible from other values in the table. Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

Fast Stream recruitment by gender, applicants external to Civil Service only, 2013 to 2025

Table 15

Competition	Male Applications[footnote 5]	Male % of known	Male Recommended for Appointment	Male % of known	Male Success rate[footnote 6]	Female Applications[footnote 5]	Female % of known	Female Recommended for Appointment	Female % of known	Female Success rate[footnote 6]	Other/Don’t Know/Prefer not to say/Non-respondents Applications[footnote 5]	Other/Don’t Know/Prefer not to say/Non-respondents Recommended for Appointment	Other/Don’t Know/Prefer not to say/Non-respondents Success rate[footnote 6]	Total Applications[footnote 5]	Total Recommended for Appointment	Total Success rate[footnote 6]
2025	28,026	47.5%	314	48.1%	1.1%	30,731	52.1%	336	51.5%	1.1%	1627	32	2.0%	60,384	682	1.1%
2024	16,809	45.4%	412	49.0%	2.5%	20,067	54.2%	420	50.0%	2.1%	1027	44	4.3%	37,903	876	2.3%
2023	9,602	46.0%	443	50.6%	4.6%	11,177	53.5%	426	48.6%	3.8%	626	32	5.1%	21,405	901	4.2%
2022	14,729	46.7%	368	41.8%	2.5%	16,707	53.0%	512	58.2%	3.1%	895	31	3.5%	32,331	911	2.8%
2021	23,471	45.4%	385	41.3%	1.6%	28,191	54.6%	547	58.7%	1.9%	1171	15	1.3%	52,833	947	1.8%
2020	25,274	45.0%	481	43.3%	1.9%	30,931	55.0%	629	56.6%	2.0%	988	23	2.3%	57,193	1,133	2.0%
2019	23,356	46.7%	510	43.0%	2.2%	26,569	53.2%	671	56.5%	2.5%	852	29	3.4%	50,777	1,210	2.4%
2018	18,997	47.8%	652	47.1%	3.4%	20,784	52.2%	732	52.9%	3.5%	676	27	4.0%	40,457	1,411	3.5%
2017	19,548	48.8%	562	46.2%	2.9%	20,487	51.2%	654	53.8%	3.2%	535	17	3.2%	40,570	1,233	3.0%
2016	16,789	52.4%	631	52.1%	3.8%	15,244	47.6%	581	47.9%	3.8%	417	33	7.9%	32,450	1,245	3.8%
2015	10,855	51.9%	480	50.4%	4.4%	10,055	48.1%	472	49.6%	4.7%	225	15	6.7%	21,135	967	4.6%
2014	10,265	51.7%	468	52.0%	4.6%	9,600	48.3%	432	48.0%	4.5%	207	15	7.2%	20,072	915	4.6%
2013	9,579	53.8%	425	49.9%	4.4%	8,227	46.2%	427	50.1%	5.2%	160	12	7.5%	17,966	864	4.8%

Source: Cabinet Office - Fast Stream Application Tracking System

Fast Stream recruitment by ethnicity, applicants external to Civil Service only, 2013 to 2025

Table 16

Competition	White Applications[footnote 5]	White % of known	White Recommended for Appointment	White % of known	White Success rate[footnote 6]	Ethic minority Applications[footnote 5]	Ethic minority % of known	Ethic minority Recommended for Appointment	Ethic minority % of known	Ethic minority Success rate[footnote 6]	Non-respondents / unknown Applications[footnote 5]	Non-respondents / unknown Recommended for Appointment	Non-respondents / unknown Success rate[footnote 6]	Total Applications[footnote 5]	Total Recommended for Appointment	Total Success rate[footnote 6]
2025	32,715	56.8%	469	72.5%	1.4%	24,884	43.2%	178	27.5%	0.7%	2,785	35	1.3%	60,384	682	1.1%
2024	23,324	64.4%	646	78.2%	2.8%	12,899	35.6%	180	21.8%	1.4%	1,680	50	3.0%	37,903	876	2.3%
2023	13,739	67.1%	607	70.3%	4.4%	6,749	32.9%	256	29.7%	3.8%	917	38	4.1%	21,405	901	4.2%
2022	21,287	69.1%	637	73.6%	3.0%	9,513	30.9%	228	26.4%	2.4%	1,531	46	3.0%	32,331	911	2.8%
2021	35,793	70.7%	702	76.8%	2.0%	14,861	29.3%	212	23.2%	1.4%	2,179	33	1.5%	52,833	947	1.8%
2020	39,130	71.2%	878	80.6%	2.2%	15,830	28.8%	212	19.4%	1.3%	2,233	43	1.9%	57,193	1,133	2.0%
2019	34,307	70.1%	940	80.5%	2.7%	14,610	29.9%	227	19.5%	1.6%	1,860	43	2.3%	50,777	1,210	2.4%
2018	26,779	68.8%	1,152	84.2%	4.3%	12,124	31.2%	216	15.8%	1.8%	1,554	43	2.8%	40,457	1,411	3.5%
2017	28,476	72.6%	985	81.7%	3.5%	10,733	27.4%	221	18.3%	2.1%	1,361	27	2.0%	40,570	1,233	3.0%
2016	23,628	75.0%	1,008	84.5%	4.3%	7,872	25.0%	185	15.5%	2.4%	950	52	5.5%	32,450	1,245	3.8%
2015	16,374	79.4%	803	85.4%	4.9%	4,253	20.6%	137	14.6%	3.2%	508	27	5.3%	21,135	967	4.6%
2014	15,794	80.6%	766	85.8%	4.8%	3,809	19.4%	127	14.2%	3.3%	469	22	4.7%	20,072	915	4.6%
2013	14,415	82.0%	724	86.4%	5.0%	3,159	18.0%	114	13.6%	3.6%	392	26	6.6%	17,966	864	4.8%

Source: Cabinet Office - Fast Stream Application Tracking System

Fast Stream recruitment by disability, applicants external to Civil Service only, 2013 to 2025

Table 17

Competition	Non-disabled Applications[footnote 5]	Non-disabled % of known	Non-disabled Recommended for Appointment	Non-disabled % of known	Non-disabled Success rate[footnote 6]	Disabled Applications[footnote 5]	Disabled % of known	Disabled Recommended for Appointment	Disabled % of known	Disabled Success rate[footnote 6]	Non-respondents / prefer not to say / other Applications[footnote 5]	Non-respondents / prefer not to say / other Recommended for Appointment	Non-respondents / prefer not to say / other Success rate[footnote 6]	Total Applications[footnote 5]	Total Recommended for Appointment	Total Success rate[footnote 6]
2025	48,902	85.7%	513	80.9%	1.0%	8,149	14.3%	121	19.1%	1.5%	3,333	48	1.4%	60,384	682	1.1%
2024	30,331	85.2%	651	80.1%	2.1%	5,280	14.8%	162	19.9%	3.1%	2,292	63	2.7%	37,903	876	2.3%
2023	16,981	84.6%	683	81.5%	4.0%	3,085	15.4%	155	18.5%	5.0%	1,339	63	4.7%	21,405	901	4.2%
2022	26,048	85.5%	682	78.7%	2.6%	4,429	14.5%	185	21.3%	4.2%	1,854	44	2.4%	32,331	911	2.8%
2021	44,181	87.9%	690	76.8%	1.6%	6,056	12.1%	208	23.2%	3.4%	2,596	49	1.9%	52,833	947	1.8%
2020	50,636	91.9%	939	86.1%	1.9%	4,484	8.1%	151	13.9%	3.4%	2,073	43	2.1%	57,193	1,133	2.0%
2019	45,441	92.6%	1,040	88.9%	2.3%	3,631	7.4%	130	11.1%	3.6%	1,705	40	2.3%	50,777	1,210	2.4%
2018	36,662	93.2%	1,234	90.1%	3.4%	2,689	6.8%	135	9.9%	5.0%	1,106	42	3.8%	40,457	1,411	3.5%
2017	37,121	93.8%	1,094	91.0%	2.9%	2,472	6.2%	108	9.0%	4.4%	977	31	3.2%	40,570	1,233	3.0%
2016	28,510	90.4%	1,038	86.8%	3.6%	3,021	9.6%	158	13.2%	5.2%	919	49	5.3%	32,450	1,245	3.8%
2015	18,738	90.6%	852	90.4%	4.5%	1,949	9.4%	90	9.6%	4.6%	448	25	5.6%	21,135	967	4.6%
2014	17,994	91.5%	803	90.2%	4.5%	1,661	8.5%	87	9.8%	5.2%	417	25	6.0%	20,072	915	4.6%
2013	16,345	92.5%	774	91.3%	4.7%	1,330	7.5%	74	8.7%	5.6%	291	16	5.5%	17,966	864	4.8%

Source: Cabinet Office - Fast Stream Application Tracking System

Fast Stream recruitment by sexual orientation, applicants external to Civil Service only, 2014 to 2025

Table 18

Competition	Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Other (LGBO) Applications[footnote 5]	Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Other (LGBO) % of known	Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Other (LGBO) Recommended for Appointment	Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Other (LGBO) % of known	Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Other (LGBO) Success rate[footnote 6]	Heterosexual Applications[footnote 5]	Heterosexual % of known	Heterosexual Recommended for Appointment	Heterosexual % of known	Heterosexual Success rate[footnote 6]	Non-respondents / prefer not to say / Applications[footnote 5]	Non-respondents / prefer not to say /Recommended for Appointment	Non-respondents / prefer not to say Success rate[footnote 6]	Total Applications[footnote 5]	Total Recommended for Appointment	Total Success rate[footnote 6]
2025	9,476	17.1%	171	29.7%	1.8%	45,881	82.9%	404	70.3%	0.9%	5,027	107	2.1%	60,384	682	1.1%
2024	6,370	18.4%	219	28.5%	3.4%	28,326	81.6%	550	71.5%	1.9%	3,207	107	3.3%	37,903	876	2.3%
2023	3,745	19.3%	174	21.7%	4.6%	15,645	80.7%	628	78.3%	4.0%	2,015	99	4.9%	21,405	901	4.2%
2022	4,900	16.5%	160	19.8%	3.3%	24,771	83.5%	649	80.2%	2.6%	2,660	102	3.8%	32,331	911	2.8%
2021	7,060	14.4%	168	19.3%	2.4%	42,121	85.6%	701	80.7%	1.7%	3,652	78	2.1%	52,833	947	1.8%
2020	6,192	11.5%	169	16.3%	2.7%	47,650	88.5%	865	83.7%	1.9%	3,441	99	2.9%	57,193	1,133	2.0%
2019	4,877	10.2%	177	15.8%	3.6%	43,058	89.8%	941	84.2%	2.2%	2,842	92	3.2%	50,777	1,210	2.4%
2018	3,572	9.3%	174	13.3%	4.9%	34,731	90.7%	1137	86.7%	3.3%	2,154	100	4.6%	40,457	1,411	3.5%
2017	3,376	8.8%	127	10.9%	3.8%	35,199	91.2%	1036	89.1%	2.9%	1,995	70	3.5%	40,570	1,233	3.0%
2016	2,694	9.1%	116	11.0%	4.3%	26,780	90.9%	935	89.0%	3.5%	2,976	194	6.5%	32,450	1,245	3.8%
2015	1,400	7.2%	71	8.1%	5.1%	18,068	92.8%	803	91.9%	4.4%	1,667	93	5.6%	21,135	967	4.6%
2014	1,161	6.3%	74	9.0%	6.4%	17,359	93.7%	752	91.0%	4.3%	1,552	89	5.7%	20,072	915	4.6%

Source: Cabinet Office - Fast Stream Application Tracking System

Fast Stream recruitment by socio-economic background, applicants external to Civil Service only, 2013 to 2025

Table 19

Competition	Higher managerial, administrative and professional occupations Applications[footnote 5]	Higher managerial, administrative and professional occupations % of known	Higher managerial, administrative and professional occupations Recommended for appointment	Higher managerial, administrative and professional occupations % of known	Higher managerial, administrative and professional occupations Success rate[footnote 6]	Intermediate occupations Applications[footnote 5]	Intermediate occupations % of known	Intermediate occupations Recommended for appointment	Intermediate occupations % of known	Intermediate occupations Success rate[footnote 6]	Routine and manual occupations[footnote 16] Applications[footnote 5]	Routine and manual occupations[footnote 16] % of known	Routine and manual occupations[footnote 16] Recommended for appointment	Routine and manual occupations[footnote 16] % of known	Routine and manual occupations[footnote 16] Success rate[footnote 6]	Non-respondent and non-working Applications[footnote 5]	Non-respondent and non-working Recommended for appointment	Non-respondent and non-working Success rate[footnote 6]	Total Applications[footnote 5]	Total Recommended for appointment	Total Success rate[footnote 6]
2025	32,591	62.6%	445	74.30%	1.4%	9.485	18.2%	73	12.2%	0.8%	10,027	19.2%	81	13.5%	0.8%	8,281	83	1.0%	60,384	682	1.1%
2024	21,067	63.7%	582	74.3%	2.8%	5,669	17.2%	111	14.2%	2.0%	6,315	19.1%	90	11.5%	1.4%	4,852	93	1.9%	37,903	876	2.3%
2023	11,335	68.3%	516	72.2%	4.6%	2,331	14.1%	93	13.0%	4.0%	2,924	17.6%	106	14.8%	3.6%	4,815	186	3.9%	21,405	901	4.2%
2022	16,790	67.8%	530	73.5%	3.2%	3,431	13.9%	87	12.1%	2.5%	4,547	18.4%	104	14.4%	2.3%	7,563	190	2.5%	32,331	911	2.8%
2021	28,317	69.3%	572	77.2%	2.0%	5,565	13.6%	79	10.7%	1.4%	6,999	17.1%	90	12.1%	1.3%	11,952	206	1.7%	52,833	947	1.8%
2020	30,005	67.5%	725	78.5%	2.4%	6,127	13.8%	105	11.4%	1.7%	8,350	18.8%	93	10.1%	1.1%	12,711	210	1.7%	57,193	1,133	2.0%
2019	27,034	68.7%	809	80.8%	3.0%	5,191	13.2%	94	9.4%	1.8%	7,100	18.1%	98	9.8%	1.4%	11,452	209	1.8%	50,777	1,210	2.4%
2018	22,364	71.3%	964	81.8%	4.3%	3,909	12.5%	107	9.1%	2.7%	5,111	16.3%	107	9.1%	2.1%	9,073	233	2.6%	40,457	1,411	3.5%
2017	24,427	69.4%	884	79.5%	3.6%	5,967	17.0%	136	12.2%	2.3%	4,805	13.7%	92	8.3%	1.9%	5,371	121	2.3%	40,570	1,233	3.0%
2016	22,249	77.5%	944	84.3%	4.2%	3,972	13.8%	129	11.5%	3.2%	2,486	8.7%	47	4.2%	1.9%	3,743	125	3.3%	32,450	1,245	3.8%
2015	14,684	77.5%	773	84.9%	5.3%	2,757	14.6%	98	10.8%	3.6%	1,497	7.9%	40	4.4%	2.7%	2,197	56	2.5%	21,135	967	4.6%
2014	14,052	77.4%	711	83.2%	5.1%	2,646	14.6%	106	12.4%	4.0%	1,464	8.1%	38	4.4%	2.6%	1,910	60	3.1%	20,072	915	4.6%
2013	12,746	78.4%	678	83.9%	5.3%	2,284	14.0%	100	12.4%	4.4%	1,238	7.6%	30	3.7%	2.4%	1,698	56	3.3%	17,966	864	4.8%

Source: Cabinet Office - Fast Stream Application Tracking System

1. Vacancy figures are true as of 19/05/2025. They are for all applicants (external and internal applicants). ↩ ↩²

2. Applicants can select up to 4 Fast Stream schemes and therefore, this is the total number of preferences, not the total number of individuals that applied. ↩

3. Success rate is the number of applicants recommended for appointment as a proportion of applications by first preference ↩

4. ‘Diplomatic and Development’ includes the ‘Diplomatic and Development’ & ‘Diplomatic and Development Economics’ schemes. ↩ ↩²

5. Applications by first preference scheme. ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹² ↩¹³ ↩¹⁴ ↩¹⁵ ↩¹⁶ ↩¹⁷ ↩¹⁸ ↩¹⁹ ↩²⁰ ↩²¹ ↩²² ↩²³ ↩²⁴ ↩²⁵ ↩²⁶ ↩²⁷ ↩²⁸ ↩²⁹ ↩³⁰ ↩³¹ ↩³² ↩³³ ↩³⁴ ↩³⁵ ↩³⁶ ↩³⁷ ↩³⁸ ↩³⁹ ↩⁴⁰ ↩⁴¹ ↩⁴² ↩⁴³

6. Success rate is the number of applicants recommended for appointment as a proportion of all applicants ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹² ↩¹³ ↩¹⁴ ↩¹⁵ ↩¹⁶ ↩¹⁷ ↩¹⁸ ↩¹⁹ ↩²⁰ ↩²¹ ↩²² ↩²³ ↩²⁴ ↩²⁵ ↩²⁶ ↩²⁷ ↩²⁸ ↩²⁹ ↩³⁰ ↩³¹ ↩³² ↩³³ ↩³⁴

7. Routine and manual occupations includes long term unemployed ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵

8. The Russell Group consists of 24 UK universities (including Oxford and Cambridge). ↩ ↩²

9. Other education provider covers applicants who did not attend a Russell Group university ↩ ↩²

10. STEM degrees include degrees subjects with a JACS science marker as defined by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) or degrees with one of the following qualification types BSc, MSc, Eng or a STEM classified PhD, DPhil or MRes ↩ ↩²

11. Non-STEM degrees include degree subjects without a JACS science marker. ↩ ↩²

12. International Territorial Level 1 ↩

13. Responses to the ‘Bursary’ and ‘No Bursary’ categories of independent or fee-paying schools have been grouped to avoid suppression ↩

14. Routine and manual occupations includes long-term unemployed ↩

15. Applications include those who applied for SIP only ↩ ↩²

16. From 2024 onwards, routine and manual occupations includes long term unemployed ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵