Feb 11, 2015

There are two major elements to look at when examining a state’s state and local Government workforce—the number of employees and the level of their pay. In this analysis, each element is measured relative to the national average and summed together to obtain an overall measure of workforce productivity. Based on this state and local government workforce productivity index, Wyoming has the third least productive state and local government workforce in the country.

Click here to view our full government workforce data app with details by state, by County, level of government, and over time.

In 2016, #Wyoming had the 3rd least productive state and local #government workforce in the country http://bit.ly/2BDEhpN @keypolicydata #WYpol #WYleg #WYsen #WYgov (click to tweet)

As shown in Chart 1, for state and local government employment in 2016, Wyoming employed 29.6 employees for every 100 employees in the private sector (employment ratio) which is 89 percent above the national average of 15.7 and is highest ratio in the country.

In 2016, #Wyoming state & local #government employed 29.6 for every 100 employed in private sector—the highest ratio in the country and 89 percent above US average http://bit.ly/2BDEhpN @keypolicydata #WYpol #WYleg #WYsen #WYgov (click to tweet)

Additionally, Wyoming’s employment ratio has been increasing. As shown in Chart 2, between 1969 and 2016, the employment ratio grew by 2 percent to 29.6 in 2016 from 28.9 in 1969. This growth is nearly identical to the national average which increased by 2 percent to 15.7 in 2016 from 15.4 in 1969.

As shown in Chart 3, for state and local government compensation in 2016, Wyoming government employees earning 25 percent more than those in the private sector (compensation ratio) which is 81 percent higher than the national average of 14 percent and is the 8th highest compensation ratio in the country.

In 2016, #Wyoming state & local #government compensation was 25% higher than in the private sector—the 8th highest ratio in the country and 81 percent above US average http://bit.ly/2BDEhpN @keypolicydata #WYpol #WYleg #WYsen #WYgov (click to tweet)

Additionally, Wyoming’s compensation ratio has been declining. As shown in Chart 4, between 1969 and 2016, the compensation ratio increased by 26 percentage points to 25 percent in 2016 from -1 percent in 1969. This is in stark contrast to the national average which increased by 15 percentage points to 14 percent in 2016 from -1 percent in 1969.

As shown in Chart 5, both wages and salaries and benefits contribute to Wyoming’s high government compensation ratio. For state and local wages and salaries in 2016, Wyoming employees earn 1 percent more than those in the private sector which is the 9th highest wages and salaries ratio in the country and significantly higher than the national average of -8 percent.

For state and local benefits in 2016, Wyoming employees earn 129 percent more than those in the private sector which is 1 percent higher than the national average of 127 percent and is the 11th highest benefit ratio in the country.

Click here to view our full government workforce data app with details by state, by county, level of government, and over time.

Of course, efficiency for local government helps to be measured on a more local scale. As such, we have also calculated the employment and compensations ratios of local government workers for every county in Wyoming.

The local government employment ratios are (from highest to lowest):

• Niobrara County, WY (65.8)
• Big Horn County, WY (44.1)
• Fremont County, WY (38.8)
• Weston County, WY (36.9)
• Lincoln County, WY (35.0)
• Johnson County, WY (34.1)
• Converse County, WY (32.4)
• Crook County, WY (32.2)
• Hot Springs County, WY (30.6)
• Sublette County, WY (30.1)
• Goshen County, WY (29.9)
• Uinta County, WY (25.6)
• Park County, WY (24.5)
• Sheridan County, WY (23.4)
• Platte County, WY (23.1)
• Carbon County, WY (22.9)
• Campbell County, WY (22.7)
• Sweetwater County, WY (21.9)
• Laramie County, WY (21.5)
• Washakie County, WY (20.8)
• Albany County, WY (19.0)
• Natrona County, WY (13.1)
• Teton County, WY (10.6)

The local government compensation ratios are (highest to lowest):

• Johnson County, WY (67 percent)
• Albany County, WY (65 percent)
• Sheridan County, WY (56 percent)
• Teton County, WY (55 percent)
• Niobrara County, WY (54 percent)
• Hot Springs County, WY (48 percent)
• Park County, WY (43 percent)
• Laramie County, WY (39 percent)
• Goshen County, WY (36 percent)
• Fremont County, WY (33 percent)
• Weston County, WY (32 percent)
• Natrona County, WY (24 percent)
• Crook County, WY (18 percent)
• Lincoln County, WY (18 percent)
• Big Horn County, WY (17 percent)
• Converse County, WY (12 percent)
• Washakie County, WY (10 percent)
• Uinta County, WY (7 percent)
• Campbell County, WY (4 percent)
• Sublette County, WY (0 percent)
• Carbon County, WY (-1 percent)
• Sweetwater County, WY (-4 percent)
• Platte County, WY (-15 percent)

Overall, it is Wyoming’s high state and local employment ratio and compensation ratio, driven by both high wages and salaries and benefits, that is the primary reason for Wyoming having the 3rd worst state and local government workforce productivity index.

Read more about the "government workforce productivity Index" methodology here.

Click here to view our full government workforce data app with details by state, by county, level of government, and over time.

Finally, don’t forget to watch our exclusive time-lapse video of our state and local government workforce productivity index over the last 47 years! See if your state has been above or below the national average?