The value of public sector wages and the numbers being recruited both rose in the 12-month period to March 2004, according to a report from the Central Statistics Office this morning.
Gardaí, Defence Forces staff and teachers were among the groups that saw average weekly earnings rise by 7.4 per cent. Also included in this sector are local authorities, civil service and semi-state employees. However, health staff are not included.
The index of average earnings, which excludes some effects of changes in employment composition, rose by 7.7 per cent over the same time frame
More than 2,200 people were recruited to public service jobs in the period, bringing the total number of people employed in the public sector, excluding health, in March 2004 to 241,800.