Transparency data

Civil Service Fast Stream: recruitment data 2026 (HTML)

Published 24 September 2026

Fast Stream recruitment by scheme, all applicants, 2026

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	654	78,407	188,865	69,046	703	1.0%
Commercial	29	3,100	11,552	3,015	27	0.9%
Cyber Security	15	5,784	12,970	5,600	15	0.3%
Digital	64	5,578	14,510	5,426	70	1.3%
Diplomatic and Development [footnote 4]	25	13,832	22,473	13,550	21	0.2%
Finance	36	4,125	9,309	4,023	38	0.9%
Government Economics Service	49	1,219	2,683	1,196	56	4.7%
Government Operational Research Service	22	785	2,999	776	25	3.2%
Government Policy	201	11,015	29,211	10,817	225	2.1%
Government Social Research Service	17	3,582	9,168	3,509	12	0.3%
Government Statistical Service	26	1,019	3,202	1,000	26	2.6%
Human Resources	28	6,511	15,245	6,330	29	0.5%
Operational Delivery	25	3,374	14,183	3,273	28	0.9%
Project Delivery	62	4,215	18,956	4,112	71	1.7%
Property	23	1,522	6,106	1,477	25	1.7%
Risk Management	5	2,031	11,732	1,984	6	0.3%
Science and Engineering	27	3,042	4,566	2,958	29	1.0%
Scheme not selected		7,673

Source: Cabinet Office - Fast Stream Application Tracking System

Fast Stream recruitment by diversity characteristics, all applicants, 2026

Table 2

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]
All applicants	78,407		69,046		703		1.0%
Sex[footnote 7]
Male	32,905	46.7%	32,322	46.8%	297	42.2%	0.9%
Female	37,501	53.3%	36,724	53.2%	406	57.8%	1.1%
I don’t know/prefer not to say/non-respondent	8,001						-
Ethnicity
White	37,914	56.8%	37,278	57.0%	474	70.3%	1.3%
Ethnic minority	28,783	43.2%	28,151	43.0%	200	29.7%	0.7%
I don’t know/prefer not to say/non-respondent	11,710		3,617		29		0.8%
Disability
Non-disabled	54,953	83.1%	53,748	83.1%	537	81.1%	1.0%
Disabled	11,136	16.9%	10,908	16.9%	125	18.9%	1.1%
I don’t know/prefer not to say/non-respondent	12,318		4,390		41		0.9%
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual	53,471	82.9%	52,380	82.8%	464	74.1%	0.9%
Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Other	11,021	17.1%	10,865	17.2%	162	25.9%	1.5%
I don’t know/prefer not to say/non-respondent	13,915		5,801		77		1.3%
Parent/guardian occupation
Higher managerial, administrative and professional occupations	35,527	59.7%	35,083	59.7%	460	74.6%	1.3%
Intermediate occupations	10,827	18.2%	10,709	18.2%	78	12.6%	0.7%
Routine and manual occupations8	13,156	22.1%	12,977	22.1%	79	12.8%	0.6%
No parental occupation information provided9	18,897		10,277		86		0.8%

Source: Cabinet Office - Fast Stream Application Tracking System

Fast Stream recruitment by ethnic group, all applicants, 2026

Table 3

Category	Applications[footnote 5] - Number	Applications[footnote 5] - % known	Recommended for appointment - Number	Recommended for appointment - % known	Success rate[footnote 6]
All applicants	69,046		703		1.0%
White - British	32,833	50.2%	419	62.2%	1.3%
White - Gypsy or Irish Traveller	31	0.0%	*	-	-
White - Irish	920	1.4%	11	1.6%	1.2%
White - Any Other White Background	3,494	5.3%	43	6.4%	1.2%
Asian or Asian British - Bangladeshi	2,458	3.8%	27	4.0%	1.1%
Asian or Asian British - Chinese	659	1.0%	10	1.5%	1.5%
Asian or Asian British - Indian	4,115	6.3%	40	5.9%	1.0%
Asian or Asian British - Pakistani	3,518	5.4%	20	3.0%	0.6%
Asian or Asian British - Any other Asian background	1,615	2.5%	15	2.2%	0.9%
Black or Black British - African	9,143	14.0%	26	3.9%	0.3%
Black or Black British - Caribbean	798	1.2%	*	-	-
Black or Black British - Any other Black background	358	0.5%	*	-	-
Mixed - White and Asian	1,527	2.3%	20	3.0%	1.3%
Mixed - White and Black African	1,005	1.5%	8	1.2%	0.8%
Mixed - White and Black Caribbean	659	1.0%	*	-	-
Mixed - Any other Mixed background	1,166	1.8%	16	2.4%	1.4%
Other - Arab	459	0.7%	*	-	-
Any other ethnic background	671	1.0%	7	1.0%	1.0%
I don’t know/prefer not to say	3,617		29		0.8%

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, 2026

Table 4

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]
All applicants	78,407		69,046		703		1.0%
Type of school attended
State-run or state-funded school, non-selective	32,013	60.3%	31,561	60.3%	316	52.6%	1.0%
State-run or state-funded school - Selective on academic, faith or other grounds	14,411	27.1%	14,221	27.1%	163	27.1%	1.1%
Independent or fee-paying school - Bursary	1,645	3.1%	1,626	3.1%	24	4.0%	1.5%
Independent or fee-paying school - No Bursary	5,034	9.5%	4,973	9.5%	98	16.3%	2.0%
Don’t know/prefer not to say/non-respondent	25,304		16,665		102		0.6%
Eligibility for free school meals
Yes	12,845	27.0%	12,661	27.0%	94	17.3%	0.7%
No	34,749	73.0%	34,274	73.0%	448	82.7%	1.3%
Unknown/prefer not to say/non-respondent	30,813		22,111		161		0.7%
Parent/guardian highest educational qualification
Degree-level qualification	34,021	53.7%	33,587	53.7%	453	70.6%	1.3%
Qualifications below degree level	17,418	27.5%	17,199	27.5%	113	17.6%	0.7%
No formal qualification	11,939	18.8%	11,775	18.8%	76	11.8%	0.6%
Don’t know/prefer not to say/non-respondent	15,029		6,485		61		0.9%
Parent/guardian occupation
Higher managerial, administrative and professional occupations	35,527	59.7%	35,083	59.7%	460	74.6%	1.3%
Intermediate occupations	10,827	18.2%	10,709	18.2%	78	12.6%	0.7%
Routine and manual occupations[footnote 8]	13,156	22.1%	12,977	22.1%	79	12.8%	0.6%
No parental occupation information provided[footnote 9]	18,897		10,277		86		0.8%
Would you describe yourself as coming from a lower socio-economic background?
Yes	24,563	43.7%	24,228	43.7%	175	30.2%	0.7%
No	31,640	56.3%	31,268	56.3%	405	69.8%	1.3%
I don’t know/prefer not to say/non-respondent	22,204		13,550		123		0.9%

Source: Cabinet Office - Fast Stream Application Tracking System

Notes:

Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

Fast Stream recruitment by educational background, all applicants, 2026

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	69,046		703		1.0%
Undergraduate University
Oxbridge	2,319	3.5%	101	14.6%	4.4%
Russell Group, excluding Oxbridge[footnote 10]	23,864	36.3%	393	56.9%	1.6%
Other education provider[footnote 11]	39,497	60.1%	197	28.5%	0.5%
Non-respondents	3,366		12		0.4%
Degree Type
STEM Degree[footnote 12]	36,692	55.9%	365	52.8%	1.0%
Non-STEM degree[footnote 13]	28,990	44.1%	326	47.2%	1.1%
Non-respondents	3,364		12		0.4%

Fast Stream recruitment by home location of applicant, all applicants, 2026

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	69,046		703		1.0%
ITL1 statistical region[footnote 14]
East Midlands (England)	3,754	5.5%	32	4.6%	0.9%
East of England	5,099	7.5%	51	7.3%	1.0%
London	16,696	24.4%	211	30.2%	1.3%
North East (England)	2,690	3.9%	23	3.3%	0.9%
North West (England)	8,096	11.8%	70	10.0%	0.9%
South East (England)	8,481	12.4%	111	15.9%	1.3%
South West (England)	3,915	5.7%	47	6.7%	1.2%
West Midlands (England)	6,049	8.8%	48	6.9%	0.8%
Yorkshire and the Humber	5,114	7.5%	47	6.7%	0.9%
Scotland	5,255	7.7%	40	5.7%	0.8%
Wales	2,279	3.3%	13	1.9%	0.6%
Northern Ireland	941	1.4%	*	-	-
Channel Islands	21	0.0%	*	-	-
Isle of Man	10	0.0%	*	-	-
Non-respondents	646		5		0.8%

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 age of applicant, all applicants, 2026

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	69,046		703		1.0%
Age
20 or under	5,159	7.5%	65	9.2%	1.3%
21-23	28,010	40.6%	387	55.0%	1.4%
24-26	12,957	18.8%	129	18.3%	1.0%
27-29	6,973	10.1%	52	7.4%	0.7%
30-39	10,459	15.1%	59	8.4%	0.6%
40+	5,487	7.9%	11	1.6%	0.2%

Source: Cabinet Office - Fast Stream Application Tracking System

Notes:

Breakdown figures may not sum to the total applications due to candidate data deletion requests.

Fast Stream recruitment by scheme, applicants external to Civil Service only, 2026

Table 8

Category	Vacancies[footnote 1]	Registrations	Applications[footnote 5]	Recommended for appointment	Success rate[footnote 6]
External applicants	654	66,609	57,921	637	1.1%
Commercial	29	2,738	2,661	25	0.9%
Cyber Security	15	4,366	4,225	11	0.3%
Digital	64	4,413	4,297	56	1.3%
Diplomatic and Development[footnote 4]	25	12,425	12,190	20	0.2%
Finance	36	3,431	3,341	33	1.0%
Government Economics Service	49	1,166	1,145	54	4.7%
Government Operational Research Service	22	732	724	22	3.0%
Government Policy	201	9,662	9,500	213	2.2%
Government Social Research Service	17	3,361	3,294	12	0.4%
Government Statistical Service	26	950	933	26	2.8%
Human Resources	28	5,313	5,175	27	0.5%
Operational Delivery	25	1,612	1,567	23	1.5%
Project Delivery	62	3,218	3,153	61	1.9%
Property	23	1,231	1,192	21	1.8%
Risk Management	5	1,772	1,735	5	0.3%
Science and Engineering	27	2,868	2,789	28	1.0%
Scheme not selected		7,351

Source: Cabinet Office - Fast Stream Application Tracking System

Fast Stream recruitment by diversity characteristics, applicants external to Civil Service only, 2026

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	66,609		57,921		637		1.1%
Sex[footnote 7]
Male	27,165	46.1%	26,715	46.1%	256	40.2%	1.0%
Female	31,824	53.9%	31,206	53.9%	381	59.8%	1.2%
I don’t know/prefer not to say/non-respondent	7,620						-
Ethnicity
White	32,394	57.7%	31,900	57.9%	437	71.3%	1.4%
Ethnic minority	23,739	42.3%	23,231	42.1%	176	28.7%	0.8%
I don’t know/prefer not to say/non-respondent	10,476		2,790		24		0.9%
Disability
Non-disabled	46,822	84.3%	45,854	84.3%	497	82.7%	1.1%
Disabled	8,700	15.7%	8,538	15.7%	104	17.3%	1.2%
I don’t know/prefer not to say/non-respondent	11,087		3,529		36		1.0%
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual	44,315	82.2%	43,466	82.1%	417	73.8%	1.0%
Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Other	9,605	17.8%	9,477	17.9%	148	26.2%	1.6%
I don’t know/prefer not to say/non-respondent	12,689		4,978		72		1.4%
Parent/guardian occupation
Higher managerial, administrative and professional occupations	31,114	61.7%	30,767	61.7%	430	76.1%	1.4%
Intermediate occupations	8,850	17.6%	8,766	17.6%	70	12.4%	0.8%
Routine and manual occupations8	10,442	20.7%	10,323	20.7%	65	11.5%	0.6%
No parental occupation information provided9	16,203		8,065		72		0.9%

Source: Cabinet Office - Fast Stream Application Tracking System

Fast Stream recruitment by educational background, applicants external to Civil Service only, 2026

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	57,921		637		1.1%
Undergraduate University
Oxbridge	2,219	3.8%	98	15.4%	4.4%
Russell Group, excluding Oxbridge[footnote 10]	22,392	38.7%	367	57.6%	1.6%
Other education provider[footnote 11]	33,309	57.5%	172	27.0%	0.5%
Degree Type
STEM Degree[footnote 12]	32,384	55.9%	337	52.9%	1.0%
Non-STEM degree[footnote 13]	25,537	44.1%	300	47.1%	1.2%

Source: Cabinet Office - Fast Stream Application Tracking System

Notes:

Breakdown figures may not sum to the total applications due to candidate data deletion requests.

Fast Stream recruitment by diversity characteristics, internal Civil Service applicants only, 2026

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	11,798		11,125		66		0.6%
Sex[footnote 7]
Male	5,740	50.3%	5,607	50.4%	41	62.1%	0.7%
Female	5,677	49.7%	5,518	49.6%	25	37.9%	0.5%
I don’t know/prefer not to say/non-respondent	381		0		0		-
Ethnicity
White	5,520	52.3%	5,378	52.2%	37	60.7%	0.7%
Ethnic minority	5,044	47.7%	4,920	47.8%	24	39.3%	0.5%
I don’t know/prefer not to say/non-respondent	1,234		827		5		0.6%
Disability
Non-disabled	8,131	76.9%	7,894	76.9%	40	65.6%	0.5%
Disabled	2,436	23.1%	2,370	23.1%	21	34.4%	0.9%
I don’t know/prefer not to say/non-respondent	1,231		861		5		0.6%
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual	9,156	86.6%	8,914	86.5%	47	77.0%	0.5%
Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Other	1,416	13.4%	1,388	13.5%	14	23.0%	1.0%
I don’t know/prefer not to say/non-respondent	1,226		823		5		0.6%
Parent/guardian occupation
Higher managerial, administrative and professional occupations	4,413	48.5%	4,316	48.4%	30	57.7%	0.7%
Intermediate occupations	1,977	21.7%	1,943	21.8%	8	15.4%	0.4%
Routine and manual occupations8	2,714	29.8%	2,654	29.8%	14	26.9%	0.5%
No parental occupation information provided9	2,694		2,212		14		0.6%

Source: Cabinet Office - Fast Stream Application Tracking System

Fast Stream recruitment by age of applicant, internal Civil Service applicants only, 2026

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	11,125		66		0.6%
Age
20 or under	104	0.9%	*	-	-
21-23	976	8.8%	14	21.2%	1.4%
24-26	2,048	18.4%	21	31.8%	1.0%
27-29	1,856	16.7%	10	15.2%	0.5%
30-39	3,648	32.8%	15	22.7%	0.4%
40+	2,493	22.4%	*	-	-

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, internal Civil Service applicants only, 2026

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	11,798		11,125		66		0.6%
Type of school attended
State-run or state-funded school, non-selective	4,999	65.2%	4,878	65.1%	32	62.7%	0.7%
State-run or state-funded school - Selective on academic, faith or other grounds	2,195	28.6%	2,148	28.7%	14	27.5%	0.7%
Independent or fee-paying school (Bursary and No Bursary)[footnote 15]	472	6.2%	462	6.2%	5	9.8%	1.1%
Don’t know/prefer not to say/non-respondent	4,132		3,637		15		0.4%
Eligibility for free school meals
Yes	2,600	38.4%	2,552	38.5%	14	31.8%	0.5%
No	4,177	61.6%	4,072	61.5%	30	68.2%	0.7%
Unknown/prefer not to say/non-respondent	5,021		4,501		22		0.5%
Parent/guardian highest educational qualification
Degree-level qualification	3,690	37.9%	3,602	37.8%	27	45.8%	0.7%
Qualifications below degree level	3,471	35.7%	3,399	35.7%	22	37.3%	0.6%
No formal qualification	2,566	26.4%	2,519	26.5%	10	16.9%	0.4%
Don’t know/prefer not to say/non-respondent	2,071		1,605		7		0.4%
Parent/guardian occupation
Higher managerial, administrative and professional occupations	4,413	48.5%	4,316	48.4%	30	57.7%	0.7%
Intermediate occupations	1,977	21.7%	1,943	21.8%	8	15.4%	0.4%
Routine and manual occupations[footnote 8]	2,714	29.8%	2,654	29.8%	14	26.9%	0.5%
No parental occupation information provided[footnote 9]	2,694		2,212		14		0.6%
Would you describe yourself as coming from a lower socio-economic background?
Yes	4,946	56.7%	4,846	56.7%	29	55.8%	0.6%
No	3,776	43.3%	3,697	43.3%	23	44.2%	0.6%
I don’t know/prefer not to say/non-respondent	3,076		2,582		14		0.5%

Source: Cabinet Office - Fast Stream Application Tracking System

Notes:

Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding.

Summer Internship Programme (SIP) recruitment by diversity characteristics, 2026

Table 14

Category	Registrations - Number	Registrations - % known	Applications - Number	Applications - % known	Recommended for appointment - Number	Recommended for appointment - % known	Success rate[footnote 6]
All applicants	5,890		1,730		386		22.3%
Sex[footnote 7]
Male	2,096	38.5%	654	37.8%	130	33.7%	19.9%
Female	3,353	61.5%	1,076	62.2%	256	66.3%	23.8%
Don’t know/prefer not to say/non-respondent	441		0		0		-
Ethnicity
White	2,237	42.0%	653	38.3%	163	42.6%	25.0%
Ethnic minority	3,083	58.0%	1,052	61.7%	220	57.4%	20.9%
Non-respondents/Unknown	570		25		3		12.0%
Disability
Non-disabled	4,143	81.7%	1,286	80.9%	274	77.2%	21.3%
Disabled	926	18.3%	303	19.1%	81	22.8%	26.7%
I don’t know/prefer not to say/non-respondent	821		141		31		22.0%
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual	3,998	79.1%	1,259	77.3%	255	71.4%	20.3%
Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Other	1,057	20.9%	369	22.7%	102	28.6%	27.6%
I don’t know/prefer not to say/non-respondent	835		102		29		28.4%
Parent/guardian occupation
Higher managerial, administrative and professional occupations	1,735	37.5%
Intermediate occupations	1,152	24.9%
Routine and manual occupations[footnote 8]	1,742	37.6%	1,730	100.0%	386	100.0%	22.3%
No parental occupation information provided[footnote 9]	1,261

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.

Summer Internship Programme (SIP) recruitment by socio-economic background, 2026

Table 15

Category	Registrations - Number	Registrations - % known	Applications - Number	Applications - % known	Recommended for appointment - Number	Recommended for appointment - % known	Success rate[footnote 6]
All applicants	5,890		1,730		386		22.3%
Type of school attended
State-run or state-funded school, non-selective	3,146	70.1%	1,212	77.2%	276	75.4%	22.8%
State-run or state-funded school - Selective on academic, faith or other grounds	1,050	23.4%	322	20.5%	80	21.9%	24.8%
Independent or fee-paying school (Bursary and No Bursary)[footnote 15]	289	6.5%	36	2.2%	10	2.8%	27.8%
Don’t know/prefer not to say/non-respondent	1,405		160		20		12.5%
Eligibility for free school meals
Yes	1,941	50.4%	949	70.0%	215	69.4%	22.7%
No	1,913	49.6%	407	30.0%	95	30.6%	23.3%
Unknown/prefer not to say/non-respondent	2,036		374		76		20.3%
Parent/guardian highest educational qualification
Degree-level qualification	1,957	39.0%	255	15.5%	61	16.5%	23.9%
Qualifications below degree level	1,648	32.8%	625	37.9%	139	37.6%	22.2%
No formal qualification	1,412	28.1%	769	46.6%	170	45.9%	22.1%
Don’t know/prefer not to say/non-respondent	873		81		16		19.8%
Parent/guardian occupation
Higher managerial, administrative and professional occupations	1,735	37.5%
Intermediate occupations	1,152	24.9%
Routine and manual occupations[footnote 8]	1,742	37.6%	1,730	100.0%	386	100.0%	22.3%
No parental occupation information provided[footnote 9]	1,261
Would you describe yourself as coming from a lower socio-economic background?
Yes	3,666	81.8%	1,560	97.0%	353	99.2%	22.6%
No	814	18.2%	48	3.0%	*	-	-
I don’t know/prefer not to say/non-respondent	1,410		122		**		-

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

Fast Stream recruitment by sex7, applicants external to Civil Service only, 2013 to 2026

Table 16

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 - % of known	Other/Don’t Know/Prefer not to say/Non-respondents - Recommended for Appointment	Other/Don’t Know/Prefer not to say/Non-respondents - % of known	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]
2026	26,715	46.1%	256	40.2%	1.0%	31,206	53.9%	381	59.8%	1.2%	-	-	-	57,921	637	1.1%
2025	28,026	47.5%	314	48.1%	1.1%	30,731	52.1%	336	51.5%	1.1%	1,627	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%	1,027	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%	1,171	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 2026

Table 17

Competition	White - Applications[footnote 5]	White - % of known	White - Recommended for Appointment	White - % of known	White - Success rate[footnote 6]	Ethnic minority - Applications[footnote 5]	Ethnic minority - % of known	Ethnic minority - Recommended for Appointment	Ethnic minority - % of known	Ethnic minority - Success rate[footnote 6]	Non-respondents / Unknown - Applications[footnote 5]	Non-respondents / Unknown - % of known	Non-respondents / Unknown - Recommended for Appointment	Non-respondents / Unknown - % of known	Non-respondents / Unknown - Success rate[footnote 6]	Total - Applications[footnote 5]	Total - Recommended for Appointment	Total - Success rate[footnote 6]
2026	31,900	57.9%	437	71.3%	1.4%	23,231	42.1%	176	28.7%	0.8%	2,790	24	0.9%	57,921	637	1.1%
2025	32,715	56.9%	469	72.5%	1.4%	24,746	43.1%	178	27.5%	0.7%	2,923	35	1.2%	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 2026

Table 18

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 - % of known	Non-respondents / Prefer not to say / Other - Recommended for Appointment	Non-respondents / Prefer not to say / Other - % of known	Non-respondents / Prefer not to say / Other - Success rate[footnote 6]	Total - Applications[footnote 5]	Total - Recommended for Appointment	Total - Success rate[footnote 6]
2026	45,854	84.3%	497	82.7%	1.1%	8,538	15.7%	104	17.3%	1.2%	3,529	36	1.0%	57,921	637	1.1%
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 2026

Table 19

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 - % of known	Non-respondents/Prefer not to say - Recommended for Appointment	Non-respondents/Prefer not to say - % of known	Non-respondents/Prefer not to say - Success rate[footnote 6]	Total - Applications[footnote 5]	Total - Recommended for Appointment	Total - Success rate[footnote 6]
2026	9,477	17.9%	148	26.2%	1.6%	43,466	82.1%	417	73.8%	1.0%	4,978	72	1.4%	57,921	637	1.1%
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%	1,137	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%	1,036	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 parent/guardian occupation, applicants external to Civil Service only, 2013 to 2026

Table 20

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]	No parental occupation information provided[footnote 9] - Applications[footnote 5]	No parental occupation information provided[footnote 9] - Recommended for Appointment	No parental occupation information provided[footnote 9] - Success rate[footnote 6]	Total - Applications[footnote 5]	Total - Recommended for Appointment	Total - Success rate[footnote 6]
2026	30,767	61.7%	430	76.1%	1.4%	8,766	17.6%	70	12.4%	0.8%	10,323	20.7%	65	11.5%	0.6%	8,065	72	0.9%	57,921	637	1.1%
2025	32,591	62.6%	445	74.3%	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 20/05/2026. They are for all applicants (external and internal applicants). ↩ ↩²

2. Applicants can select up to three 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 ↩⁴⁴

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 ↩³⁵

7. Data collection methods have been updated for this reporting period to now collect information on sex, replacing the gender identity information collected previously. This question was compulsory for application. ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

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

9. No parental occupation information provided includes non-respondents and those whose parents were retired or short-term unemployed. ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷

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

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

12. 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

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

14. International Territorial Level 1. ↩

15. Responses to the ‘Bursary’ and ‘No Bursary’ categories of independent or fee-paying schools have been grouped to avoid suppression. ↩ ↩²

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