WIESBADEN – According to provisional results of the Federal Statistical Office, Federal authorities employed about 493 000 persons (excluding persons performing compulsory military service) on 30 June 2004. That were 2 000 or 0.4% more than a year earlier. The increase is mainly due to the fact that persons employed by the legally independent Federal Employment Agency have been integrated into Federal authorities. This refers to employees now working for the customs authorities and fighting illicit work.
