Pay in the public sector is on average almost 11 per cent higher than in the private sector, according to new research from a group of leading economists.

The NUI Maynooth economists describe the difference in wage levels as "remarkable" and "quite high by international standards" and they point out that this is without taking into account the benchmarking process.

"It is also worth pointing out that our estimate for Ireland predates the substantial boost to public-sector wages and salaries that flowed from the so-called 'benchmarking' process," they write.

In June 2002, an average pay increase of 9 per cent for the State's 280,000 public servants was recommended by the benchmarking pay review body. One of the authors, Mr Jim O'Leary, was a member of the benchmarking body but resigned before the publication of its report.

Written by Mr O'Leary, Mr Gerry Boyle and researcher Mr Rory McElligott, the paper claims public servants are actually paid 42 per cent more than private sector staff.

But it acknowledges this is because of particular factors.

Public sector workers tend to be older, more experienced and better educated.

They also tend to work in more highly skilled jobs and in bigger workplaces. When these factors are removed the pay differential falls back to almost 11 per cent.

"We estimate that in 2000, the latest year for which we have completed our analysis, the premium enjoyed by public servants was almost 11 per cent, on the basis of gross monthly earnings."

The report, Public-Private Wage Differentials in Ireland, 1994-2000, finds that the pay differential is significantly greater for women than it is for men.

Women in the public sector earn 13 per cent more than women in the private sector; men in the public sector earn 8 per cent more than men in the private sector.

It also points out that the differences are most stark among lower paid workers in the public and private sectors. It finds that in general, public sector employment is more secure than private sector employment.

The NUI Maynooth team analysed Living in Ireland Surveys (LIS) that are undertaken annually by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).

The authors also looked at whether the difference in wages between the two sectors widened during the years 1994 to 2000.

"On the basis of international evidence, it might be expected that in such circumstances the intense competition amongst employers for a declining pool of available workers would have pushed up earnings in the private sector more quickly than in the public sector, resulting in a contraction of the public- sector premium. Our research uncovers some evidence that this was in fact the case, but that evidence is weak," says the report.

The difference between the two sectors is quite high by international standards, claim the authors.

"At 11 per cent for 2000, it compares with corresponding estimates in the range 4-6 per cent for France, Italy and the UK, using 1998 data."

The authors admit their report "leaves a number of important questions unanswered".

"Probably the most important is: why is our estimated public sector premium for Ireland so large?"

The authors suggest it might be their methodology, but they claim robust checks rules this out.

"That being the case, the question remains: why, on a like-for-like basis, are Irish public-sector employees paid so much more than their private-sector counterparts? This is a matter for a different strand of research."