Data Desk · United States
Government payrolls shrank in 33 of 50 states over the past year
By The Liberty Tribune Data Desk ·
Government employment fell in 33 of 50 states over the 12 months to September 2026, according to a Liberty Tribune analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. It grew in 16.
Nationwide, government employment shrank 0.9% to 23.33 million jobs, while private employment grew 0.5%. Government still grew faster than private employers in 9 states.
Government outpaced private employers by the widest margins in Michigan (2.7 points), Vermont (1.4 points) and New York (0.8 points). Private employers ran furthest ahead of government in Indiana (6.0 points), Alaska (5.6 points) and Idaho (3.4 points).
Government's share of all jobs ranges from 11.3% in Pennsylvania to 24.1% in Wyoming. The figures cover federal, state and local government, including public schools and universities.
The table below lists every state: government jobs, government's share of all jobs, and the 12-month change in government and private employment.
| State | Government jobs | Share of all jobs | Government change | Private change | Gap (points) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 643,400 | 14.3% | +2.4% | β0.3% | +2.7 |
| Vermont | 56,800 | 18.3% | +1.1% | β0.3% | +1.4 |
| New York | 1,536,400 | 15.4% | +0.8% | +0.1% | +0.8 |
| New Hampshire | 88,000 | 12.5% | +0.8% | +0.3% | +0.5 |
| Iowa | 269,900 | 17.0% | +0.6% | +0.2% | +0.5 |
| Alabama | 431,900 | 19.5% | +1.2% | +0.9% | +0.3 |
| Massachusetts | 476,800 | 12.8% | +0.7% | +0.4% | +0.3 |
| Tennessee | 460,400 | 13.6% | +1.0% | +0.8% | +0.2 |
| Georgia | 713,400 | 14.3% | +0.1% | 0.0% | +0.1 |
| Montana | 91,200 | 17.5% | β1.3% | β0.9% | β0.4 |
| Illinois | 852,200 | 13.8% | β0.1% | +0.3% | β0.4 |
| West Virginia | 147,300 | 20.5% | β0.3% | +0.1% | β0.4 |
| California | 2,675,900 | 14.7% | +0.3% | +0.8% | β0.4 |
| Virginia | 759,300 | 17.9% | β1.0% | β0.5% | β0.5 |
| New Mexico | 194,000 | 21.5% | +0.9% | +1.5% | β0.6 |
| Minnesota | 439,200 | 14.3% | +0.7% | +1.3% | β0.6 |
| New Jersey | 620,100 | 14.2% | β0.5% | +0.2% | β0.7 |
| Kentucky | 315,100 | 15.5% | β0.8% | +0.1% | β0.9 |
| Oklahoma | 372,200 | 20.7% | 0.0% | +1.0% | β1.1 |
| North Carolina | 780,300 | 15.2% | +0.4% | +1.5% | β1.1 |
| North Dakota | 85,600 | 19.1% | β0.7% | +0.4% | β1.1 |
| Mississippi | 236,600 | 19.7% | β0.3% | +0.8% | β1.1 |
| Pennsylvania | 701,900 | 11.3% | β0.3% | +0.9% | β1.1 |
| Hawaii | 125,200 | 19.5% | β0.9% | +0.3% | β1.2 |
| Maryland | 527,400 | 18.9% | β1.5% | β0.3% | β1.2 |
| Rhode Island | 64,500 | 12.6% | β1.2% | 0.0% | β1.2 |
| Maine | 101,800 | 15.4% | β1.0% | +0.3% | β1.3 |
| Arkansas | 204,700 | 15.2% | β0.3% | +1.1% | β1.4 |
| Florida | 1,141,700 | 11.4% | β0.8% | +0.8% | β1.6 |
| South Carolina | 401,200 | 16.4% | +1.0% | +2.6% | β1.6 |
| Ohio | 786,000 | 13.8% | β1.0% | +0.6% | β1.6 |
| Texas | 2,131,800 | 14.7% | β0.3% | +1.3% | β1.6 |
| Nevada | 184,800 | 11.4% | +0.2% | +1.8% | β1.6 |
| Nebraska | 177,500 | 16.7% | β1.1% | +0.7% | β1.7 |
| Delaware | 71,600 | 14.4% | β1.2% | +0.5% | β1.8 |
| Connecticut | 234,900 | 13.6% | β0.6% | +1.1% | β1.8 |
| Kansas | 257,700 | 17.5% | β1.2% | +0.6% | β1.8 |
| Missouri | 432,700 | 14.4% | β0.6% | +1.2% | β1.9 |
| Colorado | 484,000 | 16.3% | β1.2% | +0.7% | β1.9 |
| Arizona | 427,800 | 13.1% | β1.1% | +0.8% | β1.9 |
| Wisconsin | 408,700 | 13.4% | β1.3% | +0.7% | β2.0 |
| Wyoming | 71,300 | 24.1% | β0.7% | +1.4% | β2.1 |
| Oregon | 313,000 | 15.9% | β1.8% | +0.3% | β2.1 |
| Louisiana | 326,000 | 16.1% | +0.1% | +2.1% | β2.1 |
| Utah | 276,400 | 15.4% | β0.6% | +1.9% | β2.5 |
| South Dakota | 80,600 | 17.1% | β1.7% | +0.8% | β2.5 |
| Washington | 606,300 | 16.6% | β1.9% | +1.2% | β3.1 |
| Idaho | 127,600 | 14.3% | β1.8% | +1.5% | β3.4 |
| Alaska | 76,800 | 22.5% | β3.0% | +2.6% | β5.6 |
| Indiana | 409,300 | 12.6% | β5.6% | +0.4% | β6.0 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics (State and Area), seasonally adjusted, government SMS{state}000009000000001, private SMS{state}000000500000001, all jobs SMS{state}000000000000001; CES9000000001, CES0500000001 and CES0000000001 for the nation. Changes compare the same month a year earlier. Government covers federal, state and local government, including public education. State figures are preliminary and revised by BLS. Ranks exclude the District of Columbia. Computed by The Liberty Tribune from the published series.
Data retrieved from the BLS public API on October 30, 2026. BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from BLS.gov.
Free to cite or republish with attribution and a link. The chart is ours and may be reused on the same terms.
Republish this story, free
Newsrooms and newsletters may run this story and its chart at no cost. The credit line and the link back are already written in. Edit for length, keep the facts. Full terms.
More from September 2026
- Paychecks trailed prices in 38 of 50 states over the past year
- Wisconsin paychecks fell 4.1% behind prices over the past year, the widest gap of any state
- Minnesota paychecks fell 4.1% behind prices over the past year, the second-widest gap of any state
- North Dakota paychecks fell 4.0% behind prices over the past year, the third-widest gap of any state
- Hawaii paychecks beat prices by 5.5% over the past year, the most of any state
- New Mexico paychecks beat prices by 2.9% over the past year, the second-most of any state
- Texas paychecks beat prices by 2.3% over the past year, the third-most of any state
- Michigan government payrolls grew 2.4% in a year, outpacing private employers by the widest margin of any state