09 October 2006
2006 Public Sector Manpower Report
The annual report to the States detailing the number of staff working in Jersey’s public service shows for the first time the extent of the reorganisation brought by ministerial government and the public sector change programme.
Hundreds of staff have been moved from one department to another in the drive to centralise support services such as HR, IT and finance. This has been done to cut out the wastage, inconsistencies and duplication which existed in the old, department-led organisation, when many departments employed their own support services.
The report, covering the 12 months ending June 2006, shows that overall 54 jobs have been lost in the public sector and it details the moves of staff from one area of work to another.
It also, for the first time, shows how many essentially-employed J category people work for the States. Of the total of 679, 435 are medical staff employed in the health service and 205 are teaching staff employed in education.
The report gives details of actual numbers or headcount, and it translates this into full time equivalent numbers (FTEs). The FTE figures are a more accurate indication of the financial cost of public sector manpower.
The information excludes areas of the States which are self-funding trading operations, for instance the airport, harbour and the postal service.
The figures shows that the total number of staff employed by the States over the year to 30 June 2006 decreased by 5 from 6,485 to 6,480. This conceals the true picture, however, because during 2006 49 employees were transferred from Jersey Harbours to the Transport and Technical Services Department. This means that 49 people who were previously not recorded in the public sector figures are now included in the total and the actual decrease over the year was 54.
Chief executive Bill Ogley said: “Fundamentally changing the way the public sector works was a five year plan. This report gives an indication of the reorganisation which has already taken place, so that we have the right foundations from which to move forward. Over the next few years, the redevelopment of the organisation will continue and I feel confident that the public of Jersey will see that we are delivering services to them more simply, better and cheaper.”
Treasury Minister Senator Terry le Sueur sets the headcount and FTE limits. He said: “While some might be disappointed that we have cut the total number employed in the public sector by only 54, the figure conceals the fact that substantial cuts have been made in some areas of the service, which allows for growth in essential areas such as education. Had we not embarked on this reorganisation and rationalisation of the organisation, the growth in numbers could have been very much bigger.”
Commenting on the employment of J category staff, he said: “Jersey will always need to employ some specialised staff who were not born or trained here if we are to maintain our high standard of services for the public. However the States is now working hard to ensure a better match exists between the training provided for our young people and the jobs that need to be filled in Jersey. One example is the new training scheme for nurses. This should ensure that in future the number of immigrant workers needed to staff our health service will reduce in the years ahead.”
-ends-
Notes to Editors:
- For further information, please contact Senator Le Sueur (863994) or Bill Ogley (440400).
- The report is being presented to the States on 10 October 2006
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