The rate of job creation in public administration has been huge, with 35,000
people gaining employment in the 12 months to June 2003.
Research from Recruitment Trends and Forecasts shows this figure is part of
a continuing trend, as the sector added 42,000 employees in 2002, and an extra
9,000 in 2001.
These trends are also reflected in the official data on job vacancies. The
number of job vacancies in the public sector is currently rising by 2.6 per
cent a year, compared with a fall in job vacancies in the private sector of
around 1 per cent a year. But the number of job vacancies in health and social
services is actually falling by around 4 per cent, which is more than offset by
the huge rise in job vacancies in the education sector (19 per cent) and public
administration (13 per cent). But will these favourable trends continue for the
public sector over the next few years?
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The Government is currently spending more on public services than it is
collecting in tax revenues and National Insurance contributions. The research
estimated a £30bn deficit in public spending by the end of 2003. Most analysts
expect the situation to become significantly worse in 2004.
A fuller report on recruitment appears in Recruitment Trends &
Forecasts, a quarterly newsletter available on subscription from Personnel
Today Management Resources. For subscriptions enquiries, call 020 8652 8803.
