Who are public sector workers? List of jobs set for pay rise after today’s Budget
Today, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak announced the Autumn Budget for 2021.
Mr. Sunak confirmed an increase in the national living wage, as well as a new ‘start for life’ care package for families as the country continues to deal with the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Chancellor also confirmed that the pay freeze on the public sector will also be lifted, which will benefit as many as 5.6 million key workers.
But what is the public sector, and which workers are set to benefit from the pay cap being removed?
What is the public sector?
The public sector is the part of the economy that is made up of public services and public enterprises.
That includes everything from healthcare, to transport, education, the police, the military and the Government itself.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) state that 5.68 million people work in the public sector across hundreds of different occupations.
Who are public sector workers?
Almost half of the public sector workers are in occupations related to health, education, social work, government, the police, and domestic services – services that have come under a great deal of pressure across the pandemic.
The NHS alone employs 1.85 million of those individuals, while employment in central government was estimated to be around 3.47 million.
Roles in the public sector include:
- Healthcare – paramedics, administrator or health service manager typically be employed by the NHS.
- Social care – social workers, carers and probation officers.
- Law enforcement and security – Armed Forces, fire service or the police.
- Education – Primary, secondary or higher education teachers.
- The civil service – individuals working in 170 government departments across such areas as employment, pensions, healthcare, the environment, education, intenrationl trade and many more.
In his announcement on the pay cap lifting, Mr Sunak said: ‘The economic impact and uncertainty of the virus meant we had to take the difficult decision to pause public sector pay.
‘Along with our plan for jobs, this action helped us protect livelihoods at the height of the pandemic.
‘And now, with the economy firmly back on track, it’s right that nurses, teachers and all the other public sector workers who played their part during the pandemic see their wages rise.’
The one-year public sector pay freeze was part of the government’s response to the economic emergency caused by Covid, but did exclude NHS staff and workers earning a salary below £24,000.
While the lift has been confirmed the government has yet to guarantee the increase will be higher than the rising cost of living, with inflation expected to average 4% over the next year.
MORE : Around 4,000 troops on standby to help NHS cope this winter
MORE : Autumn Budget 2021: How to watch Rishi Sunak’s announcement today
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Autumn Budget 2021: All the key points from Rishi Sunak's plan
Rishi Sunak has announced the largest increase in public spending in a century in a budget that has promised ‘the start of a new post-Covid economy’.
Many of the headline policies include a rise in the national living wage and a pledge to spend billions on the NHS.
Here are the main changes you need to know about:
- Universal Credit raised for 1,700,000 people with 8p boost to pay packet
- Fuel duty will not increase as prices at the pumps hit record high
- Millions of key workers set to be paid more as Rishi Sunak confirms end to pay freeze
- Rishi Sunak promises £150,000,000,000 spending frenzy in Budget statement
- Rishi Sunak confirms increase of national living wage to £9.50 an hour
- Pints of beer cut by 3p and sparkling wine is about to become cheaper
- Families will get £300,000,000 in new ‘Start for Life’ campaign
- Thousands of football pitches will be built to boost 2030 World Cup bid
- Prepare for a pricey Christmas as inflation ‘likely to rise’