Average weekly earnings in the public sector, excluding health, rose by 9.7 per cent in the year to March 2001, according to the latest data from the Central Statistics Office. The index of average earnings which excludes some effects of changes in employment composition also rose by 9.7 per cent. A total of 220,400 people were employed in the public sector, excluding health, in March 2001 compared to 214,900 in March 2000. This rise mainly comprises a rise of 2,500 in the education sector, 1,000 in the semi-state sector, a 1,300 rise in employment in regional bodies and a civil service rise of 1,400. There was a fall of 400 in the defence sector.