New data from the Institute for Government’s Whitehall Monitor highlights a continuing decline in morale among UK civil servants, with dissatisfaction over pay and benefits driving concerns. Despite marginal pay increases in 2023, civil servants have seen real-terms wage cuts over the past decade, leading to recruitment and retention challenges. After years of improving engagement scores, which reflect motivation and attachment to the organisation, morale has dipped significantly since 2021. The latest figures show that engagement scores fell across all departments in 2022, with the Cabinet Office recording a stark 9 percentage point decline. The Department for Education (DfE) saw