Public sector employment reaches 5.8 million

Public sector employment increased by 72,000 in the 12 months to September 2005 to stand at 5.8 million – but the government has insisted it is on target to meet efficiency targets.

This compares with an increase of 115,000 in the 12 months to the third quarter 2004, according to the Office for National Statistics.

The Cabinet Office said that the number of employees in full time employment in the civil service staff at end of Sept was 533,690 – a 3,000 reduction from the end of June.

“The reduction of a further 3,000 in civil service numbers, the fourth consecutive quarter of reductions, provides more evidence that the government is on course to meet its targets for job cuts,” a Cabinet Office spokesman said.

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• In central government, employment increased by 42,000 in the 12 months to the third quarter 2005


• In local government it increased by 32,000 and in public corporations it fell by 2,000


• The number of employees in the civil service fell by 3,000 to stand at 567,000


• The largest increases in the 12 months to the third quarter 2005 were in health and social work and education, up by 45,000 and 25,000 respectively


• Employment in the private sector increased by 249,000 (1.1%) in the 12 months to the third quarter 2005, compared with the rise of 72,000 (1.3%) in the public sector.