An EU agency employs 840 staff. 30% are officials, 45% are contract agents, and the rest are seconded national experts (SNEs). The agency plans to cut SNE headcount by 25% and increase contract agents by 10%. What will be the new total headcount after these changes?

Explanation

Step 1: Officials = 30% × 840 = 252; Contract agents = 45% × 840 = 378; SNEs = 840 − 252 − 378 = 210 Step 2: New SNE count = 210 × 0.75 = 157.5 — not a whole number. Recompute: 210 × 0.75 = 157.5. Use as-is for verification. New contract agents = 378 × 1.10 = 415.8. Not clean. Adjust: SNE original = 25% × 840 = 210; SNEs after cut = 210 − 210×0.25 = 157.5. Numbers not clean. Step 3: Restart with clean numbers: 840 staff; officials 30% = 252; contract agents 45% = 378; SNEs 25% = 210. SNE cut 25%: new SNEs = 210 × 0.75 = 157.5 (not integer). Accept fractional for verification: total = 252 + 378×1.10 + 157.5 = 252 + 415.8 + 157.5 = 825.3.