Public sector earnings up 5.5%

Average weekly earnings in the public sector (excluding Health) rose by 5.5% in the year to June 2005.

The index of average earnings, which excludes some effects of changes in employment composition, rose by 6.3% for the same period.

A total of 249,200 people were employed in the Public Sector (excluding Health) in June 2005 compared to 244,000 in June 2004.

Employment in education increased from 86,800 to 91,100, employment in the health sector increased from 97,700 to 100,900 while employment in the semi-state Sector fell from 58,100 to 57,300 in the same period.

Overall employment in the public sector was 350,100 in June 2005, an increase of 8,400 compared with June 2004.