The latest figures from the Central Statistics Office show that average weekly earnings in the public sector - excluding health - rose by 3.2% during 2008.
The CSO also says that a total of 262,300 people were employed in the Public Sector, excluding health, in December 2008 compared to 256,600 in December 2007.
During the year, employment in the education sector increased from 100,900 to 105,000, a rise of 4,100.
Overall employment in the public sector was 373,300 in December 2008, an increase of 5,200 compared with December 2007.
