The CSO reported today that average weekly earnings in the Irish Public Sector (excluding Health) rose by 3.4% in the year to March 2009 from €941.01 to €973.04. This compares to a rise of 3.2% in the year to December 2008. Weekly earnings for the Defence Sector rose by 5.2% (from €788.18 to €828.79) and for the Regional Bodies by 4.4% (from €832.64 to €869.10). Average weekly earnings for A Garda Síochána, inclusive of overtime, fell by 4% from €1,226.16 to €1,177.54 per week. However, their weekly earnings excluding overtime rose by 1.9% from €1,054.34 to €1,074.04 for the same period. Employment rose 2,900 in year to March 2009 and jumped by 20,000 in  three years.

Over the three year period from March 2006 to March 2009, average weekly earnings in the Public Sector (excluding Health) rose by 12.2% from €867.62 to €973.04. Defence Sector earnings rose by 17.5% (from €705.46 to €828.79) and Semi-State by 14.8% (from €946.00 to €1,085.75), while the earnings for A Garda Síochána, inclusive of overtime, rose by 5.9%. All sectors within the Education Sector rose by around 10%, except for Third Level where average earnings rose by 17.9% from €928.81 to €1,095.36 per week.

Employment up 2,900 in year to March 2009

A total of 371,200 people were employed in the Public Sector in March 2009 compared to 368,300 in March 2008, a rise of 2,900. This compares to a rise of 5,200 in the year to December 2008. Employment in the Education Sector increased from 101,400 in March 2008 to 104,100 in March 2009, a rise of 2,700.

Employment in the Health Sector rose by 1,500 from 110,300 in March 2008 to 111,800 over the same period. In the year to March 2009 employment in Regional Bodies fell from 39,000 to 37,800 (a decrease of 1,200). In the same period there were 500 fewer people employed in the Semi-State Sector where numbers dropped to 52,300 in March 2009.

In the three years to March 2009, employment in the Public Sector rose by 19,900 to 371,200. From March 2006 to March 2009 employment in the Semi-State Sector fell from 55,900 to 52,300, a decrease of 3,600. This is due in part to the privatisation of Aer Lingus. Employment in the Health Sector increased from 103,300 to 111,800, an increase of 8,500. This includes certain categories of staff not previously included prior to March 2007. Employment in An Garda Síochána for the same period rose by 2,000 from 12,400 to 14,400, reflecting the level of recruitment to that body.

The distribution of employment within the Total Public Sector has altered little between March 2006 and March 2009. The largest sector is the Health Sector at 30% of all employment. The Education Sector currently makes up 28% of the total employment in the Public Sector compared with 26% in March 2006. The Semi-State Sector, Civil Service and Regional Bodies make up 14%, 11% and 10% respectively inMarch 2009, but stood at 16%, 10% and 11% respectively in March 2006. An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces continue to make up 4% and 3% respectively of total employment in the Public Sector.