A Record Decline in Government Jobs: Implications for the Economy and America’s Workforce

It’s easy to be cynical here and say something like “good riddance”, etc. However, what we are talking about is a severe cut in infrastructure investment (people, safety, science, and so on). As Asia and other parts of the world invest, we cut the pieces that they are copying…

Total government (i.e., the sum of state, local, and federal) employment has decreased by over 580,000 jobs since the end of the recession, the largest decrease in any sector since the recovery began in July 2009. State and local governments, faced with tough choices imposed by the confluence of balanced-budget requirements, falling tax revenues, and greater demand for public services, have been forced to lay off teachers, police officers, and other workers.