GMB attacks public sector jobs 'carnage'

A leading union today attacked the jobs "carnage" in the public sector after official figures showed a 381,000 reduction in the number of workers since the general election.

The GMB said private firms were not able to make up for the losses in public organisations, warning that the cuts were damaging the UK's chances of economic recovery.

The data showed that public sector employment fell from more than 6.3 million before the general election to less than six million at the end of last year.

The biggest loss of jobs was in the South West (52,000), followed by London (46,000), the North West (45,000), South East (41,000), Scotland (38,000), East of England (32,000), Yorkshire and the Humber and the West Midlands (both 27,000) and the North East (24,000).

GMB general secretary Paul Kenny said: "These figures go a long way to explain why unemployment has increased in the UK since the general election.

"The Government has been putting people out of work and the private sector cannot make up for the jobs carnage."

PA