Public Sector
As of December 2008 the public sector in Northern Ireland accounted for 30.8% of the total workforce. This is significantly higher than the overall UK figure of 19.5%, and also higher than Scotland, the next nearest region at 24%. Overall, the Northern Ireland figure has fallen. In 1992 the public sector accounted for 37% of the workforce. When measured relative to population, the gap between the Northern Ireland and UK figures reduces to three percentage points.
In total, the British government subvention totals £5,000m, or 20% of Northern Ireland's economic output. Many unionists in Northern Ireland argue that a united Ireland could not sustain these levels of public sector employment, particularly as only 36% of the economy of the Republic of Ireland is made up of government expenditure.
Read more about this topic: Economy Of Northern Ireland
Famous quotes containing the word public:
“[In government] the constant aim is to divide and arrange the several offices in such a manner as that each may be a check on the other—that the private interest of every individual may be a sentinel over the public rights.”
—James Madison (1751–1836)