There is widespread recognition that the balance between the public and private sector in Northern Ireland is out of kilter and needs to be addressed.
In March 2015, the total number of public sector jobs stood at over 185,000, representing almost 26 per cent of those in employment in the north.
Per head of the population this is significantly higher than Scotland and Wales, where it stands at 21 per cent with England ranging from 20 per cent in the North East to 15 per cent in London.
The dependence on the public sector is seen by many as an impediment to the growth of our economy which needs to be driven by businesses that can develop and thrive, providing jobs and reducing the reliance on the taxpayer.
Reducing the number of employees in the civil service and other publicly-funded organisations was a central element of the Stormont House Agreement in December 2014, committing the executive to the reform and restructuring of the public sector.
But it is one thing to acknowledge that change is needed and another to manage that change in a way that maintains the efficient delivery of public services.
The Northern Ireland Audit Office has examined the impact of the voluntary exit scheme set up to cut the number of civil servants and other public sector staff.
In terms of value for money, the scheme is given a glowing report.
It cost £170 million to pay for 4,383 staff to leave but the report says an estimated £155 million will be saved annually as a result, which is clearly significant.
However, such a swift and sharp decrease in staffing clearly has wide-ranging implications, as the report acknowledges.
While some organisations declared efficiencies others have been affected by the loss of key skills and deteriorating morale.
The government had been warned that while some staff would be delighted to leave their jobs with a generous lump sum, those left behind to deal with extra work would be understandably less positive.
This is something various departments and agencies need to recognise and should form part of the ongoing assessment of the exit scheme.
