The number of people working in the public sector stood at 239,400 at the end of March 2003, a rise of 6,500 in the past 12 months, according to figures today.
The employment and earnings figures from the Central Statistics Office show that average weekly earnings in the public sector rose by 3.1 per cent in the 12 months to March 2003, giving an average weekly wage of €717.65. The average industrial weekly wage is €517.At the end of 2002, the last year for which figures for the health service are available, there were 95,700 employed in the sector, bringing public employment to over 335,000 people.
The biggest rise in employment was in education, which rose by 5,700 while regional bodies employed 500 more people. Employment in semi-state bodies rose by 400.
But only 700 jobs were added in the last quarter between March and June which may signal the beginning of the recruitment embargo at budget time. The Governmnet has promised to reduce by 5,000 in the number of public sector employees over a period of three years.
"The reduction is a start," according to IBEC economist, Mr Aebhric Mc Gibney. "However, the government target of cutting back on the burgeoning numbers in the public sector is too little too late. The target of 5,000 should be doubled," he added.
Prison officers fared best in terms of pay among public servants with an average weekly wage (including overtime) of €1,123 compared to an average of €717.65. Gardaí average €943.69 a week with overtime while the average for the civil service is €671.55.