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Fewer Jobs In Washington -- But More in State Capitals

Daily Policy Digest

State And Local Issues

Monday, August 20, 2001

During the 1990s, the federal government followed a separate path from state and local governments when it came to hiring workers. Washington shed jobs, while states and municipalities added to their payrolls, according to Census Bureau data.

Overall, government jobs have slipped as a share of total employment -- down to 16 percent in 2000 from 17 percent in 1990.

Over that period, the federal work force was trimmed by more than 300,000 employees.

Meanwhile, state and local payrolls increased by nearly 18 percent -- or 2.7 million workers.

The education sector and police protection each added 20 percent more workers -- while hospital jobs fell 13 percent.

Education accounts for more than half of total non-federal government employment. While public school enrollments expanded 13 percent during the 1990s, they are projected to rise only about 3 percent from 2000 to 2010.

Source: Charles J. Whalen, "Economic Trends: Uncle Sam Isn't Hiring," Business Week, August 27, 2001.

For more on State and Local Spending
http://www.ncpa.org/pd/state/state5.html

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