Public sector employment

Relative to both population and total employment, public sector employment has been in steady decline over the past 10 years.

The number of public sector employees per 1,000 of population dropped by close to 9% between 1995 and 2004. There were 100.9 public sector employees per 1,000 of population in 1995, compared to 92.3 in 2004.

Among the 10 provinces in 2004, the ratio of total public sector employees per 1,000 inhabitants ranged from 81.6 in Alberta to 131.9 in Saskatchewan.

The importance of public sector employment also declined steadily in proportion to total employment over the past 10 years. From a proportion of 22.3% in 1995, public sector employment accounted for 18.5% of total employment in 2004.

Again, Alberta and Saskatchewan find themselves at opposite ends of the spectrum of values in 2004, with public sector employment accounting for 14.9% and 27.4% respectively of total employment.

Estimates of public sector employment and aggregate public sector wages and salaries are now available for the fourth quarter. The data for the first, second and third quarters have been revised.

Note: The public sector includes all economic entities controlled by government. It is comprised of the ministries, departments, agencies, special-purpose funds and organizations; public educational institutions; and health and social service agencies of the three levels of government (federal, provincial/territorial and local) along with their government business enterprises.

Total employment data used here are from the Labour Force Survey and can be found in table 282-0002 on CANSIM. Population data are from the Estimates of Population and can be found in table 051-0001 on CANSIM.

Available on CANSIM: tables 183-0002 to 183-0004.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey numbers, including related surveys, 1713 and 1728.

Data tables on public sector employment are also available online in the Canadian Statistics module of our Web site.

For general information or to order data, contact Joanne Rice (613-951-0767; joanne.rice@statcan.gc.ca). To enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Kim Balson (613-951-4855; kimberly.balson@statcan.gc.ca), Public Institutions Division.