A recent social media post by "Tablesalt 🇨🇦" has drawn attention to the scale of Canada's public sector, claiming approximately 4.5 million public servants are funded by 13.7 million private sector workers, leading to a ratio of "3 taxpayers for every 1 public servant making 80-120k." This tweet highlights ongoing discussions about the size and cost of the public service in Canada.
Statistics Canada data for late 2023 and early 2024 indicates that the total public sector employment in Canada, encompassing federal, provincial, municipal, health care, education, and government business enterprises, is indeed around 4.2 to 4.4 million individuals. This figure includes a federal public service of approximately 360,000 to 370,000 employees, with the larger number reflecting the broader scope of public sector roles across all levels of government and publicly funded institutions.
In contrast, private sector businesses in Canada employed approximately 12.5 million people in 2023. When comparing the total public sector workforce to the private sector, the ratio is roughly one public sector employee for every 2.8 private sector workers. This closely aligns with the tweet's assertion of "3 taxpayers for every 1 public servant," framing the discussion around the economic burden on private sector contributors.
The tweet also raised questions about public servant salaries, suggesting a range of "$80-120k." Data from sources like Talent.com indicates the average public sector salary in Canada is around $108,007 per year. Reports from the Fraser Institute and other analyses frequently point to a wage premium for public sector employees compared to their private sector counterparts, even after accounting for factors such as age, education, and experience.
The Parliamentary Budget Officer reported that federal personnel expenditures reached a record high of $67.4 billion in 2023, with over 110,000 federal bureaucrats earning six-figure salaries in that year. This indicates that a significant portion of the public service, particularly at the federal level, falls within or exceeds the salary range mentioned in the tweet. The ongoing growth of the public sector and its associated costs remain a subject of public and economic scrutiny.