As of September 2024, the number of individuals working for federal, state, and local governments in the United States has reached an astonishing 23.4 million, surpassing the population of Florida, which stood at 22.6 million in July 2023. This means that the total number of government workers in the U.S. exceeds the entire population of the Sunshine State, making it one of the largest sectors in the American workforce.
The dramatic rise in government employment highlights a significant shift in the nation's economic landscape. Government employees now account for 14.7% of the total U.S. workforce. In comparison, the non-farm workforce in the U.S. is about 159.1 million, meaning that more than one out of every seven workers in America is employed by the government.
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Historically, government employment has expanded substantially. In January 1939, government workers made up only 13.3% of the workforce, but that figure grew steadily, reaching 17.85% by September 1979. Today, while the percentage has dipped slightly compared to the 1979 peak, the absolute number of government employees has continued to soar.
The growth of government employment raises concerns about the increasing size and scope of the federal and local bureaucracies. Particularly striking is the fact that the state and local government employment sector reached an all-time high of 14.9 million employees, including over 8 million working in local education. Local governments, especially in major metropolitan areas, have become significant employers.
Government employees exceed population of Florida https://t.co/QlrECb9asf
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This surge in government employment comes amid rising government spending, which hit unprecedented levels during the pandemic. Federal, state, and local spending ballooned from $6.9 trillion in 2019 to $9 trillion in fiscal 2023. Despite a slight drop in 2022, spending remains higher than pre-pandemic levels.
Moreover, government compensation costs are significantly outpacing those in the private sector. A report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed that total compensation for state and local government workers averages $61.37 per hour, nearly 40% higher than the $43.94 per hour for private sector employees. The disparity is largely due to generous benefit packages, including pensions and healthcare, which make government jobs especially lucrative.
With 2.9 million employees in the federal government and another 5.5 million in state governments, questions are being raised about the long-term sustainability of such large payrolls. Additionally, there are growing concerns that the bloated size of the government workforce is contributing to inefficiencies, making it difficult for private sector businesses to compete in attracting and retaining talent.
The massive expansion in government employment also correlates with rising public debt. As spending continues to outpace revenue, future generations may be left to bear the burden of paying for the generous salaries and benefits promised to current government employees. Conservatives argue that curbing government growth and focusing on private sector-led economic recovery is crucial to reversing this trend.
