IT contractors and other temporary staff should have a larger role to play in public sector resourcing, according to the Recruitment and Employment Federation (REC).

Maintaining a flexible workforce using contract staff and temporary workers to respond to peaks in demand can make public sector spending more efficient, the REC claims.

The federation has launched their Make It Work! campaign promoting alternative methods of public spending.

Kevin Green, chief executive officer of the REC warned that "ill-conceived" public spending cuts in the recession could cause "irreparable damage to the delivery of frontline services".

He added: "A new approach to public sector resourcing is urgently needed. Flexible resourcing must be seen as part of the solution rather than part of the problem."

Without reform, expenditure would simply increase again as soon as the pressure on costs was relieved, Mr Green concluded.

Public sector employees are currently "overworked" according to the Trades Union Congress (TUC).

One in four public sector workers worked unpaid overtime in 2009, as employers looked to save costs by stretching their existing workforce, the TUC claims.