Number employed in public sector drops by 8,200

THE number of people employed in the public sector has fallen by 8,200 in the 12 months to last September, according to official figures.

Sat, 19 Dec, 2009 - 00:00

Sean McCarthaigh

Data from the Central Statistics Office also reveals that the average salaries of public sector workers fell by 0.4% in the third quarter of 2009.

However, the CSO figures show that average earnings of public sector workers have risen by 2.5% over the past 12 months to €969.11 per week.

Average weekly earnings (which exclude the salaries of staff in the health sector) stood at €973.09 in July – an annual increase of €23.93.

A total of 360,900 people were employed in the public sector in September 2009 compared to 369,100 in the corresponding month last year – a drop of 2.2%.

While there was a reduction in the numbers employed in the civil service, the HSE and local authorities in the year to last September, there was an increase in the number of gardaí with the overall size of the force increasing by 500 to 14,700.

According to the CSO over the past four years, overall employment in the public sector has risen by 17,300 to 360,900 – a 5% increase, while average earnings increased by over 14% over the same period.

The revelation that average public sector pay rose by 2.5% in the 12 months to September will provide some comfort to the Government after the controversial cutbacks for the public sector pay bill announced in the budget earlier this month.

The salaries of public sector employees are due to fall further next year as a result of the pay reductions announced by Finance Minister Brian Lenihan.

All such workers will see a reduction in 5% of the first €30,000 of salary from January 1, plus 7.5% of the next €40,000 and 10% of the next €55,000.

Staff on salaries over €125,000 will have additional pay cuts ranging from 8%-15%.

The CSO figures show the average weekly earnings for staff in county councils and other local authorities over the 12 months to last September rose by 4.6% – up €37.13 to €852.71, while the average earnings of teachers rose by 3% – up €28.61 to €973.10.

However, the average pay of gardaí, including overtime earnings, over the same period fell by 0.8% – down €9.82 to €1,186.37.

The figures compiled by the CSO are gross salaries.