Public sector earnings rose 3.5% in 2003

Public sector salaries rose by an average of 3.5 per cent  in  in 2003, according to official figures released today.

The index of average earnings in the public sector - which excludes some effects of changes in employment composition - rose by 3.7 per cent for the same period.

A total of 241,200 people were employed in the public sector - excluding the health sector- in December 2003 compared to 240,100 in December 2002.

Employment in the health sector increased from 95,700 to 96,500 in the same period.

Overall, employment in the Public Sector was 337,700 in December 2003.