Almost 170 States jobs to go this year

Wednesday 18 November 2015

The public sector workforce has been cut by 120 jobs already this year with another 45 due to go by January.

The figures have been released by Chief Minister Ian Gorst, and show that although confidence in the States’ efficiency and reform programme has been knocked by the departures of Kevin Keen and Tracey Vallois, the work is still going ahead.

The States are aiming to cut £70 million from the States’ pay bill by 2019 as part of a package of measures to fill the looming £145 million deficit in public finances.

Ministers plan to hit that target by cutting jobs, by freezing public sector pay, and by reviewing salaries to make sure that they match the jobs that people are doing.

Figures revealed by Senator Gorst show that 120 full-time equivalent positions have been cut already this year – mostly by not replacing some departing staff – and that another 45 will follow by the end of the year under the States’ Voluntary Redundancy scheme, which offers workers a pay-off to quit their jobs.

Another 21 staff are set to go next year under the Voluntary Redundancy scheme, and Senator Gorst has not ruled out compulsory redundancies.

The figures were revealed in response to a question by Deputy Montfort Tadier.

At the average public sector salary of £46,800, the combined annual salary saving from cutting the 165 jobs due to go by the end of the year would be £7.7 million.