Official workforce statistics data are derived from a number of sources, some system-based, some survey-based.
This page documents the census and data extract dates, as well as any dates associated with quality assurance and publication.
Employment data
These data are extracted from eESS monthly (previously, SWISS was used up to October 2025). We publish the data at the March, June, September, and December census dates. We work with NHS Boards to quality assure the data at the February, May, August, and November census dates.
| Census date | Extract (week beginning) | Date available | Data use |
| 31 August 2026 | 14 September 2026 | 18 September 2026 | NHS Boards quality assurance |
| 30 September 2026 | 12 October 2026 | 1 December 2026 | NHS Scotland workforce publication |
| 31 October 2026 | 10 November 2026 | ||
| 30 November 2026 | 7 December 2026 | 11 December 2026 | NHS Boards quality assurance |
| 31 December 2026 | 11 January 2027 | 2 March 2027 | NHS Scotland workforce publication |
| 31 January 2027 | 8 February 2027 | ||
| 28 February 2027 | 8 March 2027 | 12 March 2027 | NHS Boards quality assurance |
| 31 March 2027 | 12 April 2027 | 1 June 2027 | NHS Scotland workforce publication |
| 30 April 2027 | 10 May 2027 | ||
| 31 May 2027 | 14 June 2027 | 18 June 2027 | NHS Boards quality assurance |
| 30 June 2027 | 12 July 2027 | 7 September 2027 | NHS Scotland workforce publication |
| 31 July 2026 | 9 August 2026 | ||
| 31 August 2026 | 13 September 2026 | 17 September 2026 | NHS Boards quality assurance |
| 30 September 2026 | 11 October 2026 | 7 December 2026 | NHS Scotland workforce publication |
The reason for the lag between the census and extract date is to allow time for NHS Board HR and payroll records to be updated in their source systems.
Advanced nurse practitioners (ANP)
The ANP employment data are available from eESS and these data are extracted in line with the above employment timetable. The ANP workforce data at 30 September census are published in December release of the NHS Scotland workforce publication.
Doctors and dentists in training
Turas People data for doctors and dentists in training are extracted on 1st of each month. These data are merged with eESS data at the last day of the previous month. Since Turas People over-writes when records are updated, these regular monthly data snapshots are necessary to maintain a longitudinal data set.
Vacancy survey data
Vacancy data are collected from NHS Boards for Consultants, Nursing and Midwifery staff and Allied Health Professions by a survey four times each year. These data form part of the NHS Scotland workforce publication.
We send the survey to data providers approximately two weeks prior to the census date, and ask that they are submitted by the third Friday after the census date.
| Census date | Date survey sent to data providers | Date for submission | Date available to public |
| 30 September 2026 | 18 September 2026 | 16 October 2026 | 1 December 2026 |
| 31 December 2026 | 11 December 2026 | 15 January 2027 | 2 March 2027 |
| 31 March 2027 | 19 March 2027 | 16 April 2027 | 1 June 2027 |
| 30 June 2026 | 18 June 2026 | 16 July 2026 | 7 September 2026 |
Consultant programmed activity
Data on consultant contracts are collected from NHS Boards by a survey once a year in September. This is currently on hold.
Dentists
There are three sources of dental workforce data in Scotland. These data are combined and are available in the NHS Scotland workforce publication released in June and December.
Data about dentists working in the general dental services are sourced from the Management Information and Dental Accounting System held at Public Health Scotland. The timetable for these data are below.
| Census date | Date requested | Date for submission | Date available |
| 31 March | Mid-March | 30 April | NHS Scotland workforce publication released in June |
| 30 September | Mid-September | 31 October | NHS Scotland workforce publication released in September |
Data about dentists working in hospitals and community health services are sourced from eESS. These data are extracted in line with the employment data timetable above.
Data on Vocational Dental Practitioners are sourced from Turas Training Programme Management. These data are extracted at the end of April for 31 March census and end of October for 30 September census.
Medical and dental locum spend
Medical and dental locum spend data are derived from NHS Scotland's finance platform for the spend over a financial year. They are available in the NHS Scotland workforce publication released in June.
An email is sent in the middle of March requesting the data to be sent by the middle of April.
Nursing and midwifery agency
These data are collected from NHS Boards by a survey at the end of each financial year and are available in the NHS Scotland workforce publication released in June. We send the survey to data providers in the middle of March and ask that they are submitted by the middle of April.
Nursing and midwifery bank staff expenditure
Nursing and midwifery bank staff expenditure data are extracted from eESS; the data cover expenditure for the full financial year. They are extracted at the end of April and are available in the NHS Scotland workforce publication released in June.
Pharmacy workforce survey (managed sector)
The NHS Scotland pharmacy workforce employment and vacancies are collected from NHS Boards by an annual survey. The census for these data is 30 September and the data are available in the NHS Scotland workforce publication released in December. We send the survey to data providers in the middle of September and ask that they are submitted by the middle of October.
Student nursing
Student nursing data are sourced from Turas Indexing. The data are extracted in October each year are available in the NHS Scotland workforce publication released in December.
CAMHS and Psychology Workforce data
The Official workforce statistics data for CAMHS and Psychology workforce and Staff in Training are obtained from the CAMHS and Psychology Databases and NES Turas Training Programme Management data platform.
Employment data
CAMHS and Psychology Workforce staff in post data are extracted from the CAMHS and Psychology databases. The data are published at the March, June, September, and December census dates after ensuring quality assurance from Health Boards prior to the final extracts.
|
Census date |
Extract date |
Date available |
Data use |
|
31 December 2025 |
20 January 2026 |
4 March 2026 |
NHS Scotland CAMHS and Psychology workforce publication |
|
31 March 2026 |
14 April 2026 |
3 June 2026 |
NHS Scotland CAMHS and Psychology workforce publication |
|
30 June 2026 |
14 July 2026 |
2 September 2026 |
NHS Scotland CAMHS and Psychology workforce publication |
|
30 September 2026 |
13 October 2026 |
2 December 2026 |
NHS Scotland CAMHS and Psychology workforce publication |
The difference in the time for the census and extract date is to allow Health Boards to update the databases and for quality assurance.
Staff in Training
The data for Staff in Training are obtained from NES Turas Training Programme Management data platform and included in the Official Statistics publication for the March and September census data.
Vacancy survey data
Vacancy data are collected from NHS Boards by survey. The survey is sent to the data providers approximately three weeks after the census date and request for submission by the following week.
|
Census date |
Date survey sent to data providers |
Date for submission |
Date available to public |
|
31 December 2025 |
23 January 2026 |
30 January 2026 |
4 March 2026 |
|
31 March 2026 |
18 April 2026 |
25 April 2026 |
3 June 2026 |
|
30 June 2026 |
18 July 2026 |
25 July 2026 |
2 September 2026 |
|
30 September 2026 |
17 October 2026 |
24 October 2026 |
2 December 2026 |