The public administration continues to lose weight, which in 2013 recorded the fifth consecutive decline in employment, while employees still lose purchasing power. This was announced by the data published by the State General Accounting Office, according to which in 2013 the number of workers in the Public Administration decreased by 6 thousand units, while, compared to 2007, there was a decrease of 5,7%, slightly less than 200 thousand people.
In the period considered, in fact, public administration personnel on permanent contracts decreased from 3.429.266 in 2007 to 3.232.954 in 2013. Fixed-term personnel also decreased, while part-time personnel increased and in comparison with 2007, external collaboration contracts: from 81.753 to 33.192. Labor costs went from 157,811 billion in 2007 to 158,207 billion in 2013, with an average annual salary per capita that went from 31.670 to 34.505.
The State Accounting document also contains advances on 2014, the year in which the trend in personnel cuts should continue and, indeed, expand compared to what was done in 2013.
As regards, in more detail, the average wages over the seven years analysed, there was an increase in the first few years, thanks above all to the carrying over of contract renewals from the previous period, and a contraction in the following years. As the RAgioneria points out, the inflation rate had an increase of 13,3% between 2007 and 2013, "significantly higher than the variation recorded by the average salary actually representative of the entire public sector, which had a increase of 9%”.
As regards, however, the distribution of public personnel by geographical area, the greatest concentration is found in the North (34,95%) and in the South and Islands (35,03%), while 29,79% is found in the Center . Among the regions, Lombardy (12,72%) and Lazio (12,31%) stand out, followed by Campania and Sicily. The ranking is closed by Valle d'Aosta, Molise and Basilicata.
But for all public administration the unresolved issue remains that of low productivity and insufficient efficiency which the reforms should remedy.
