According to the Ministry of Finance’s Q1 2026 budget execution report, the government spent GEL 154.4 million on contract-based (non-staff) employees in the public sector. This represents a 1% increase, or about GEL 1.5 million, compared to the same period in 2025.
The report also shows a significant rise in spending on formally employed public servants. In the first quarter of 2026, the total wage bill for staff-position employees increased by 13% to GEL 775 million, up by GEL 89.5 million year-on-year.
The Ministry does not disclose the number of contract workers, making it unclear how many individuals received the GEL 154.4 million in total payments during the period.
For comparison, around 117,000 people are employed in staff positions, with average gross monthly pay estimated at GEL 2,208 per person, or about GEL 1,766 after income tax.
