A controversial sign outside a government Ministry cost even more than previously thought.

A stone sign outside the front of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment cost $44,000. However, once installation and lighting costs are added in, the final cost is over $67,000.

The revelations come following the Ministry's announcement earlier this week that approximately 56 staff would be losing their jobs.

Labour's economic development spokesperson David Clark said Minister Steven Joyce has been micro-managing the Ministry, so the blame rests with him.

"This is the Minister that was all over choosing the colour of documents, choosing to have them in landscape rather than portrait format."

David Clark believes Minister Steven Joyce should have shopped around.

"He's got nothing that he can point to, to say that this was a sensible spend. He himself has admitted it was wasteful spending."

Description of total costs ($67,339.21)

• $43,490 - Cost Supply and installation of the sign
• $963 - Lighting 
• $13,500 - Construction and installation costs of the foundation base including lining and cladding 
• $2,000 - Resource consents 
• $7,386.21  - Fees and margin for the construction company