Public sector employment rose by 13,000 in the second quarter of 2009 to 6.039m, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics.

Employment in central government increased by 21,000, due mainly to growth in

employment in the NHS (18,000 increase).

Local government jobs were cut by 5,000 and public corporations decreased by 3,000, while civil service workers increased by 1,000.

The Q2 2009 public sector estimate is 289,000 higher than the same quarter last year but unlike Q2 2008, the estimate comprises employment into the Royal Bank of Scotland Group and Lloyds Banking Group.