Number of Cyprus civil servants increased in 2011 despite claims

** Public sector grows as percent of employment **

The number of civil servants rose in 2011 according to the latest data from the Statistical Service, despite a former finance minister’s declarations to the contrary.
Overall public-sector workers stagnated but only because of a cut in publicly owned enterprises.
The total number of civil servants in central government rose by 257 to 52,198 and the total number in non-profit organisations by 165 to 5,717.
Municipalities added another 199 staff, while only publicly owned enterprises shed labour, seeing a fall of 515.
Since overall employment declined, the share of the public sector in total employment grew to 19.1%, from 17.5% in 2007.

Fiona Mullen