Public sector workers earn 7% on average more than their counterparts in the private sector, and the gap has doubled since the recession began, it has been reported. Skip related content
Analysis of official figures by a newspaper suggests staff employed by the state are getting bigger pay rises, working fewer hours and receiving pensions far in excess of their peers.
Since Labour came to power, the number of public sector workers increased by 914,000 to more than six million - around a fifth of the workforce.
Data published by the Office for National Statistics indicate that average earnings in the public sector rose to £22,405 last year, compared to £20,988 in the private sector. The previous year non-state employees were just 3% behind on this measure, and until 2005 they were receiving more, according to the newspaper.
Last year the average public sector employee worked for 25 hours a week - a fall of an hour on the previous year, and two and a half hours less than private sector workers.
The average state employee also enjoys three or four more days of holiday a year, the paper found.
Yahoo