The number of staff employed by the government and its institutions increased rapidly between 2018 and 2021, during which there were also two election campaigns.
Data from INSTAT shows that the number of people employed by the state increased by 6.2% from 2018 until the end of 2021. Those in the private sector increased by just 2.4%.
The state has thus become the country’s largest employer, with particular employee increases in municipalities and energy and water departments. Overall, 26% of social security payers are employed by the state, one of the highest rates in Europe, alongside Sweden and Denmark.
This also comes at a time the government is digitising many services, which should, theoretically reduce the number of employees.
The current growth rate and the number of employees is at the highest level seen since 2005, historical data shows.
Local elections took place in June 2019 and general elections in April 2021. The data shows that employee rates started to increase in 2018, prior to the 2019 elections and at the end of 2020, before the 2021 elections.
