The number of public sector vacancies is currently low

There are currently 6,400 people working in the public sector, an increase of about 600 in that time.

This now accounts for one in eight of all the people working in Jersey.

About 80% of the increase has been in the education and health departments.

Vacancy decrease

At the end of June 2003, 190 more people were being employed by the States than the previous year.

The figure does not include people working for government businesses such as Jersey Post and Jersey Airport.

However, the number of vacancies in the public sector is at its lowest level for four years.

Earlier in the week, it was reported that the number of people registered unemployed in Jersey in the run-up to Christmas has tripled in a year.

There were 642 people registered with the Employment and Social Security Department in November.

In November 2002, there were only 204 people on the register.

The Statistics Unit of the Policy and Resources Department said of unemployment: "Due to the absence of unemployment benefit in Jersey, the number of people registered as unemployed should be regarded as an indicator rather than a measure of the actual level of unemployment."

The president of the Employment and Social Security Department, Senator Paul Routier, said of the island's unemployment: "These are still very low numbers compared to many countries.

"Unemployment at around 1% of the working population would be regarded as a very enviable situation elsewhere.

"However, we cannot ignore the fact that there is currently a trend of increasing numbers and we will continue to monitor the position closely and report monthly on any changes."