Analysts say the public sector's importance is growing in the employment landscape

Infometrics research shows public sector jobs have grown countrywide over the past 20 years.

Senior Economist Brad Olsen says jobs and the sector size are both up.

Olsen says now five percent of all jobs are in the public service - a one percent increase since the year 2000.

The biggest job growth over the past year has been in the Ministry of Social Development and Oranga Tamariki.