TORONTO — A new report shows job growth in Canada's public sector far outpaced that in the private sector over a decade.
A study released today by the Fraser Institute found employment in the public sector increased by 22.6 per cent between 2003 and 2013, the latest data available.
That's compared with a 10.7 per cent increase in the private sector.
The difference is particularly stark in Ontario, where public-sector jobs grew by 27.6 per cent over that time period, and private-sector jobs by 5.6 per cent.
The study by the Vancouver-based think tank shows Alberta had the smallest gap, with a 31.9 per cent rise in public-sector employment and a 29.3 per cent increase in the private sector.
Only Newfoundland saw more growth in private-sector jobs, which rose by 14 per cent. The public sector gained 11.8 per cent more jobs in that decade.
The study defines public employees as anyone working for any level of government, for a government service or agency, a Crown corporation or a government-funded organization such as a school or hospital.
