Source: CSO

Irish Public Sector ex-Health: Average weekly earnings in the Public Sector (excluding Health) rose by 1.7% in the year to June 2008. Employment rose by 8,600 in year, the CSO said today.

The index of average earnings, which excludes some effects of changes in employment composition, rose by 2.5% for the same period.  Average  weekly earnings rose by 3.6% in the year to March 2008 while the index of average  earnings rose by 4.0% for the same period.

The fall in earnings in the second quarter likely reflects a fall in overtime pay.

Employment up by 8,600 in year to June 2008

A total of 262,600 people were employed in the Public Sector (excluding Health) in June 2008 compared to 254,000 in June 2007. In the year to June 2008 employment in the Education sector increased from 97,000 to 101,600, a rise of 4,600.

Overall employment in the Public Sector was 373,100 in June 2008, an increase of 7,500 compared with June 2007. In the year to June 2008 employment in Regional Bodies increased from 40,000 to 41,200 (a rise of 1,200). Employment in the Health Sector decreased from 111,600 in June 2007 to 110,500 in June 2008, a decrease of 1,100.