Fire and Rescue Services workforce statistics show little change in numbers

The UK Home Office has released its statistics on the workforce and pensions for Fire and Rescue Services (FRSs) in England for the year ending March 2024.

As of 31 March 2024, FRSs employed 30,769 full-time equivalent (FTE) firefighters, a figure largely unchanged from the previous year.

However, over the past decade, the number of firefighters has decreased by 17%, reflecting a longer-term trend of declining staffing levels.

Diversity in the workforce has also been reported, with 9.3% of firefighters identifying as women, an increase from 8.7% the previous year.

Similarly, 5.4% of firefighters were from an ethnic minority, compared to 5.3% in 2023.

These statistics were sourced directly from the UK Home Office.

Staff leavers, joiners, and apprentices data shows stability

Over the year ending March 2024, 3,814 staff left FRSs, accounting for 8.5% of the total staff headcount at the start of the year.

This represents a decrease from 4,299 staff leavers (9.7%) in 2023.

At the same time, 4,192 new staff joined FRSs, equating to 9.4% of the total workforce.

Among the new recruits, 931 were apprentices.

This data highlights a steady workforce transition, as FRSs continue to maintain staffing levels.

“The trend of staff leaving and joining has remained consistent over the last several years,” the report notes.

Health and safety report highlights slight reduction in firefighter injuries

During the year ending March 2024, there were 2,408 on-duty firefighter injuries, a slight decrease of 0.6% compared to the previous year.

Of these, 35 were categorised as major injuries, while no fatalities were reported.

The number of injuries during operational incidents also dropped, with 987 firefighters injured during such operations, down from 1,118 the previous year.

The report notes: “Firefighter safety remains a key priority, and the downward trend in injuries reflects ongoing improvements in health and safety measures.”

Attacks on firefighters decreased by 6.1% in 2024

Incidents involving attacks on firefighters also saw a reduction in the year ending March 2024, with 967 incidents reported, down from 1,030 in 2023.

Of these incidents, 96 resulted in injuries to firefighters, 14 of which were classified as serious.

The majority of these attacks were verbal, accounting for 64% of all incidents.

“Attacks on firefighters remain a concern, but the reduction in numbers is a positive development,” according to the Home Office.

A breakdown of key statistics

Total Workforce and Staffing Trends

• Total Staff: FRSs employed 39,851 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff on 31 March 2024, a 0.9% increase from the previous year. Over the last decade, this figure has declined by 12%.
• Firefighters: The number of FTE firefighters remained stable at 30,769, a 0.2% increase from 2023, but a 17% decline over the last decade.
• Wholetime vs. On-call Firefighters: While wholetime firefighter numbers increased by 0.6% over five years, on-call firefighter numbers dropped by 15%.
• Leavers and Joiners: During the year, 3,814 staff (8.5%) left the service, and 4,192 staff (9.4%) joined, including 931 new apprentices.

Diversity and Inclusion

• Women Firefighters: As of March 2024, 9.3% of firefighters were women, up from 8.7% the previous year and 6.4% five years ago.
• Ethnic Minorities: 5.4% of firefighters were from ethnic minority backgrounds, a slight increase from 5.3% in 2023, but significantly lower than the 26% figure for the general English population.
• LGB+ and Disability: The proportion of firefighters identifying as LGB+ reached 5.0%, an increase from 4.3% in 2023. The percentage of firefighters declaring a disability rose to 5.0% from 4.8% the previous year.

Health and Safety

• Firefighter Injuries: In 2024, 2,408 firefighter injuries were reported, a slight reduction (0.6%) compared to 2023. No fatalities occurred, and major injuries declined to 35 from 47 the previous year.
• Vehicle Incidents: There were 2,926 accidents involving FRS vehicles, a 1.5% decrease from the previous year.

Attacks on Firefighters

• Incidents: There were 967 incidents involving attacks on firefighters, down by 6.1% from the previous year. These incidents resulted in 96 injuries, of which 14 were serious.

Pension Scheme Overview

• Expenditure: Firefighters’ pension scheme expenditure totaled £1,041 million in 2024, a 7.1% increase from 2023, while income rose to £438 million, up 6.6%.
• Deficit: The pension scheme deficit increased by 7.5%, reaching £603 million.
• Membership: As of 31 March 2024, the pension scheme had 45,064 pensioner members, with 79% of them in the 1992 Scheme.

Summary of Workforce and Diversity Trends

• Workforce Decline: Over the last decade, the total FRS workforce has decreased by 12%, with a significant reduction in on-call firefighters (26%).
• Diversity Improvements: Incremental improvements have been observed in gender, ethnic minority representation, and LGB+ declarations, though figures remain below the national averages for these groups.

Industry comment

Joanna Lewis, Managing Director of Safecall – the independent whistleblowing service provider – commented on the importance of ensuring safe working environments for firefighters and rescue workers.

Lewis said: “The importance of the Fire and Rescue Services (FRSs) and its partners to the British public is undeniable.

“They are responsible for ensuring that people are safe in their own homes and built environments.

“When it comes to their own workplace, FRS employees should feel the same sense of security if they need to report malpractice and misconduct, especially as workplace diversity continues to grow and conditions become more challenging.

“Anonymous whistleblowing systems and processes that uphold the FRS code of ethics should be encouraged, and a policy of using trained investigators – whether internal or outsourced – should be adopted to build trust and confidence in the outcomes of any investigations.

“We see this every day. Safecall already supports over 400 UK fire stations around the country through anonymous and independent whistleblowing hotlines, workplace investigations, and CPD rated investigator training.

“In this respect, the FRS is a prime example of an industry trying to do right by its employees, so that they can in turn protect our families and communities.”

Fire and rescue workforce and pensions statistics for England, 2024 published: Summary

The UK Home Office has published the Fire and Rescue Services workforce and pensions statistics for England, covering the year ending March 2024.

FRSs employed 30,769 full-time equivalent firefighters by 31 March 2024, reflecting a stable workforce size with only a 17% reduction over the past decade.

Diversity statistics show that 9.3% of firefighters were women, and 5.4% were from ethnic minorities.

Health and safety data reveal a slight reduction in on-duty injuries, with 2,408 injuries recorded, while attacks on firefighters also fell by 6.1%.

The number of staff leavers and joiners has remained consistent, ensuring stable staffing levels.