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, Florida has the nineteenth 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, #Florida had the 19th least productive state and local #government workforce in the country http://bit.ly/2BDEhpN @keypolicydata #FLpol #FLleg #FLsen #FLgov (click to tweet)

As shown in Chart 1, for state and local government employment in 2016, Florida employed 12.6 employees for every 100 employees in the private sector (employment ratio) which is -20 percent below the national average of 15.7 and is 4th lowest ratio in the country.

In 2016, #Florida state & local #government employed 12.6 for every 100 employed in private sector—the 4th lowest ratio in the country and -20 percent below US average http://bit.ly/2BDEhpN @keypolicydata #FLpol #FLleg #FLsen #FLgov (click to tweet)

Additionally, Florida’s employment ratio has been decreasing. As shown in Chart 2, between 1969 and 2016, the employment ratio shrank by -22 percent to 12.6 in 2016 from 16.2 in 1969. This decrease is opposite of 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, Florida government employees earning 19 percent more than those in the private sector (compensation ratio) which is 38 percent higher than the national average of 14 percent and is the 14th highest compensation ratio in the country.

In 2016, #Florida state & local #government compensation was 19% higher than in the private sector—the 14th highest ratio in the country and 38 percent above US average http://bit.ly/2BDEhpN @keypolicydata #FLpol #FLleg #FLsen #FLgov (click to tweet)

Additionally, Florida’s compensation ratio has been increasing. As shown in Chart 4, between 1969 and 2016, the compensation ratio increased by 13 percentage points to 19 percent in 2016 from 6 percent in 1969. This is a slower growth rate than the national average which increased by 15 percentage points to 14 percent in 2016 from -1 percent in 1969.

As shown in Chart 5, it is both state and local wages and salaries and benefits that are responsible for Florida’s high government compensation ratio. For state and local wages and salaries in 2016, Florida employees earn 2 percent more than those in the private sector which is the 8th highest wages and salaries ratio in the country and higher than the national average of -8 percent.

For state and local benefits in 2016, Florida employees earn 113 percent more than those in the private sector which is -11 percent lower than the national average of 127 percent and is the 18th 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 Florida.

The Florida counties with the highest local government employment ratios include:

• Union County, FL (46.4)
• Holmes County, FL (38.4)
• Lafayette County, FL (36.5)
• Liberty County, FL (33.3)
• Dixie County, FL (32.9)
• Gilchrist County, FL (32.7)
• Madison County, FL (31.9)
• Glades County, FL (29.3)
• Calhoun County, FL (27.6)
• Hamilton County, FL (26.7)

The Florida counties with the lowest local government employment ratios include:

• Sumter County, FL (8.9)
• Collier County, FL (8.6)
• Seminole County, FL (8.4)
• Palm Beach County, FL (8.2)
• Pinellas County, FL (8.1)
• Hillsborough County, FL (7.9)
• Martin County, FL (7.8)
• Sarasota County, FL (6.9)
• Orange County, FL (6.5)
• Duval County, FL (5.8)

The Florida counties with the highest local government compensation ratios include:

• Monroe County, FL (63 percent)
• Hernando County, FL (55 percent)
• Lafayette County, FL (52 percent)
• Hendry County, FL (51 percent)
• Osceola County, FL (49 percent)
• Charlotte County, FL (48 percent)
• Suwannee County, FL (46 percent)
• Flagler County, FL (45 percent)
• Holmes County, FL (45 percent)
• Volusia County, FL (44 percent)

The Florida counties with the lowest local government compensation ratios include:

• Duval County, FL (13 percent)
• Brevard County, FL (12 percent)
• Gadsden County, FL (11 percent)
• Seminole County, FL (11 percent)
• Bradford County, FL (6 percent)
• Hillsborough County, FL (5 percent)
• Liberty County, FL (2 percent)
• Taylor County, FL (2 percent)
• Hamilton County, FL (-7 percent)
• Union County, FL (-24 percent)

Overall, it is Florida’s high compensation ratio, driven by both wages and salaries and benefits, that is the primary reason for Florida having the 19th 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?