Public sector jobs ‘more attractive’ than private sector

The current economic climate has led people to find employment in the public sector more attractive than in the private sector, according to a professional body.

A lack of financing is being experienced by private companies while the public sector is benefiting due to the increase in borrowing in the latest Pre-Budget Report, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) says.

According to the Office of National Statistics, the number of people in employment in the three months prior to October 20008 was 29.38 million, down 115,000 over the quarter.

Gerwyn Davies, public policy adviser for the CIPD, said in terms of where we are in the economic cycle, public sector employment is far more attractive than the private sector.

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“Above all there are more opportunities and there is no doubt that public sector employment has gone up in the most recent quarter,” she added.

Recent figures from the CIPD show 75 per cent of organisations are planning to recruit in the next three months, down from 81 per cent in summer 2008.