The latest Comensura Government Index has shown a 15.2 percent decrease in the number of temporary workers being employed across the public sector. The decrease relates to the first quarter of 2012 and is believed to be one of the results of the Agency Workers Regulation (AWR). The drop is compared with the figure from the same period of last year. The drop was seen most in local authority jobs with the North East experiencing the largest decrease when compared to other regions. Jamie Horton, Managing Director, at Comensura said today, "the decrease in temporary employment in the North East and West Midlands is reflected within the wider UK employment figures. Local Authorities have made a real and concerted effort to reduce the amount spent on temporary labour."

On the other hand, there was an increase in pay of an average of 8.9 per cent due again in part to the introduction of the AWR. The index specifically looked at 70 local authorities and other public bodies. Despite the general reduction there was good news too. Within the construction industry there was actually an increase the number of temporary workers employed. This could be evidence of some green shoots in the economy's recovery. The results also showed that women generally faired better than men. However, this is due in the most part to a lower than expected reduction in the amount of temporary workers throughout the administrative sector. These jobs are seventy percent populated by women so affected the their overall figure. Women now account for 45.3 percent of temporary labour.

Unfortunately, young people suffered the worst from the reduction in temporary workers being employed by local authorities. There was a significant decrease in the number of temporary workers aged between twenty five and thirty four. The figure was 35.4 percent lower for those young persons employed by local authorities compared to last year. There isn't much hope for any increase over the next quarter either. Local authorities are gaining greater control on their expenditure in terms of temporary workers and as the recession continues to bite, reductions in temporary employment is an easy way to reduce costs.