Public sector employment has increased in the year to September 2007, new figures from the Central Statistics Office show.
The figures released today show 251,100 people were employed in the public sector, excluding health, in September 2007, compared to 247,600 in September 2006, an increase of 3,500.
The figures also show the average weekly earnings in the public sector rose by 4 per cent in the year to September 2007.
Employment in education increased by 5,300, and employment in the commercial semi-state sector fell by 4,200 over the same period - affected by the privatisation of Aer Lingus.
The number of workers in the health sector increased by 6,900.
The figures show overall employment in the public sector was 363,900 in September 2007 - an increase of 10,400 on the previous year.