The average hourly earning between the public and private sectors stood at 8.2 percent last year, said the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Tuesday.

The figure shows a widening gap between the two sectors with the average pay of employees in the public sector rising much faster than that in the private. The gap was 7.8 percent in 2010 and 5.3 percent in 2007.

ONS said in a report, since 2002 the size of the pay difference has fluctuated, rising from 2002 to 2005 and then falling by 2007. In 2007 the pay difference was estimated at 5.3 percent and it is estimated to be 2.9 percentage points higher in 2011 to reach 8.2 percent.

The report also looked at the differences between the types of jobs in the two sectors and the characteristics of the people within them. "These factors would account for at least some of the difference."

Among the other differences highlighted by the ONS between the public and private sectors were that about 40 percent of public sector workers have a degree or equivalent qualification, compared with about 25 percent in the private sector.

Also, the gap between the highest and lowest paid workers is higher in the private sector, with the top 5 percent of earners paid 5.7 times more than the bottom 5 percent, compared with 4.5 times in the public sector.

The public sector is made up of a higher proportion of higher skilled jobs and older employees. The earnings of older employees tend to increase with age and experience, said ONS.