Is a teacher in a private school a public sector worker?

No. A teacher in a privately owned and funded school is part of the private sector. A teacher in a state school is a public sector worker.

What's the main difference between 'public sector' and 'civil service'?

The 'civil service' is a subset of the public sector, specifically the permanent administration that implements government policy. The public sector is broader, including the NHS, teachers, police, military, and employees of state-owned enterprises.

Can a company be both public and private sector?

In this context, generally no. A company is either state-owned (public sector) or privately owned (private sector). However, a publicly traded company ('public' on the stock market) is still in the private sector of the economy.

Why is the hyphen important in 'public-sector worker'?

The hyphen creates a compound adjective, clearly linking 'public' and 'sector' to modify 'worker'. Without it, the phrase can be momentarily ambiguous (e.g., a 'public sector-worker' vs. a 'public-sector worker').

How do you pronounce “public sector”?

Public sector: in British English it is pronounced /ˌpʌblɪk ˈsektə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌpʌblɪk ˈsektər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

public sector: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

C1/B2 (Academic/Business)

UK/ˌpʌblɪk ˈsektə/US/ˌpʌblɪk ˈsektər/

Formal (News, Politics, Economics, Business), Occasionally Informal

My Flashcards

Quick answer

What does “public sector” mean?

The part of the national economy that is owned, managed, and funded by the state (government) rather than private individuals or companies.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

The part of the national economy that is owned, managed, and funded by the state (government) rather than private individuals or companies.

Refers broadly to all government organisations, services, and their employees, including central government, local authorities, state-run healthcare, education, and emergency services. It can also imply a specific approach to management, employment conditions, and culture distinct from the private sector.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

The term is identical in usage and concept. Differences arise in specific institutions referenced (e.g., NHS in UK vs. various federal/state agencies in US).

Connotations

In both, it can carry connotations of bureaucracy, stability, or inefficiency. In UK political discourse, its size and funding are more frequently debated.

Frequency

Very high frequency in both UK and US political, economic, and news media. Slightly higher in UK discourse due to larger state role in services like healthcare.

Grammar

How to Use “public sector” in a Sentence

The public sector + verb (employs, provides, manages)in/within the public sectorpublic sector of + countrycontrast between the public and private sectors

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

public sector workerpublic sector employeepublic sector paypublic sector pensionspublic sector unionpublic sector borrowingpublic sector spending

medium

public sector jobpublic sector reformpublic sector cutspublic sector efficiencypublic sector investmentpublic sector organisation

weak

large public sectorshrinking public sectormodernise the public sectoraccountability in the public sector

Examples

Examples of “public sector” in a Sentence

adjective

British English

Public-sector unions are negotiating a new pay deal.
He has decades of public-sector experience.

American English

Public-sector employees have different benefits packages.
The report highlighted public-sector inefficiencies.

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Refers to a major client base, a competitor for talent, or a regulatory environment. 'We need to understand public sector procurement rules.'

Academic

Used in economics, political science, and public administration studies. 'The study analyses productivity growth in the public sector.'

Everyday

Used when discussing jobs, services, or taxes. 'She's looking for a more stable job in the public sector.'

Technical

Precisely defined in national accounts (e.g., SNA 2008) to include general government and public corporations.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “public sector”

Strong

the civil service (narrower)government (broader)

Neutral

state sectorgovernment sector

Weak

the state (broader)the civil sphere (formal)

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “public sector”

private sector free marketcorporate sectorbusiness world

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “public sector”

Using 'public sector' as an adjective without a hyphen (public sector worker vs. public-sector worker). The hyphenated form is preferred when used attributively.
Confusing 'public sector' with 'third sector' (charities/NGOs).

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: No. A teacher in a privately owned and funded school is part of the private sector. A teacher in a state school is a public sector worker.
: The 'civil service' is a subset of the public sector, specifically the permanent administration that implements government policy. The public sector is broader, including the NHS, teachers, police, military, and employees of state-owned enterprises.
: In this context, generally no. A company is either state-owned (public sector) or privately owned (private sector). However, a publicly traded company ('public' on the stock market) is still in the private sector of the economy.
: The hyphen creates a compound adjective, clearly linking 'public' and 'sector' to modify 'worker'. Without it, the phrase can be momentarily ambiguous (e.g., a 'public sector-worker' vs. a 'public-sector worker').
: The part of the national economy that is owned, managed, and funded by the state (government) rather than private individuals or companies.
: Public sector is usually formal (news, politics, economics, business), occasionally informal in register.
: Public sector: in British English it is pronounced /ˌpʌblɪk ˈsektə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌpʌblɪk ˈsektər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

“The bleeding heart of the public sector (pejorative)”
“A lifeline from the public sector”
“To be sheltered in the public sector”

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think PUBLIC = of the people, by the government. SECTOR = a slice of the economy. So, the 'public-sector' is the 'government slice' of the economy.

Conceptual Metaphor

THE ECONOMY IS A PIE (with public and private sectors as slices). THE STATE IS A PARENT (the public sector provides and protects).

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

After the financial crisis, many graduates sought the stability of a job.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is typically NOT considered part of the core public sector?