PANAJI
Goa’s government workforce -- an army of nearly 64,000 public servants -- has undergone dramatic changes in its community composition, demographics, and academic profile over the past five years, according to a new report released by the Department of Planning and Statistics.
The report, covering employees across 89 government departments, autonomous bodies, aided institutions, and State-run corporations, reveals that while the overall workforce grew modestly from 63,162 in 2019 to 63,970 in 2024, the balance of communities within it shifted noticeably.
Hindu employees rose by 2.14%, Muslims registered a slight increase of under 1%, while Christian employees saw a sharp decline of 2.32% -- dropping from 11,336 in 2019 to 9,997 in 2024. Employees from other communities also edged up by 0.12%.
The report highlights a drop of government employees from Goa’s coastal talukas and an increase in those hailing from hinterland regions.
Salcete and Bardez, traditionally populous in government service, saw declines of 875 and 481 employees respectively. In contrast, Sattari taluka surged by 1,000 employees, rising from 4,466 in 2019 to 5,444 in 2024 -- a spike linked to recruitment drives ahead of the 2022 elections. Ponda also recorded a modest increase.
The State’s bureaucracy is also becoming more educated, with the proportion of employees holding postgraduate or higher degrees climbing by 1.6% over the five-year period.
A notable rise was also seen among Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes, and Other Backward Classes.
Their numbers grew by 3,810, from 16,781 in 2019 to 20,519 in 2024, marking a significant expansion in representation.
The survey also revealed a social snapshot -- nearly 21 % of government employees are single. Out of 63,970 workers, 51,055 reported being married, 12,907 single, while eight chose not to disclose their status.
The findings paint a picture of a workforce in transition -- shaped by shifting community ratios, hinterland recruitment, rising educational qualifications, and greater representation of historically disadvantaged groups.
The numbers seemingly tell a story of not just employment, but also of Goa's evolving social and political currents within its public institutions.
