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, Georgia has the fourth most 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, #Georgia had the 4th most productive state and local #government workforce in the country http://bit.ly/2BDEhpN @keypolicydata #GApol #GAleg #GAsenate #GAgov (click to tweet)

As shown in Chart 1, for state and local government employment in 2016, Georgia employed 15.3 employees for every 100 employees in the private sector (employment ratio) which is -2 percent below the national average of 15.7 and is the 17th lowest ratio in the country.

In 2016, #Georgia state & local #government employed 15.3 for every 100 employed in private sector—the 17th lowest ratio in the country and -2% below US average of 15.7 http://bit.ly/2BDEhpN @keypolicydata #GApol #GAleg #GAsenate #GAgov  (click to tweet)

Additionally, Georgia’s employment ratio has been increasing. As shown in Chart 2, between 1969 and 2016, the employment ratio increased by 4 percent to 15.3 in 2016 from 14.8 in 1969. This increase was slightly faster than 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, government employees earned -1 percent less than those in the private sector (compensation ratio) which is significantly lower than the national average of 14 percent and is the 5th lowest compensation ratio in the country.

In 2016, #Georgia state & local #government compensation was -1% lower than in the private sector—the 5th lowest ratio in the country and well below US average of 14% http://bit.ly/2BDEhpN @keypolicydata #GApol #GAleg #GAsenate #GAgov  (click to tweet)

Additionally, Georgia’s compensation ratio has been increasing. As shown in Chart 4, between 1969 and 2016, the compensation ratio increased by 1 percentage points to -1 percent in 2016 from -2 percent in 1969. This is a slower increase relative 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 Georgia’s low government compensation ratio. For state and local wages and salaries in 2016, Georgia employees earn -21 percent less than those in the private sector which is the lowest wages and salaries ratio in the country and significantly lower than the national average of -8 percent.

For state and local benefits in 2016, Georgia employees earn 105 percent more than those in the private sector which is -18 percent lower than the national average of 127 percent and is the 27th lowest 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 Georgia.

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

• Taliaferro County, GA (200.0)
• Long County, GA (161.4)
• Calhoun County, GA (121.8)
• Miller County, GA (77.3)
• Glascock County, GA (72.6)
• Echols County, GA (69.6)
• Lanier County, GA (60.6)
• Wilcox County, GA (59.6)
• Madison County, GA (55.3)
• Brantley County, GA (55.2)

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

• Richmond County, GA (9.1)
• Gwinnett County, GA (9.0)
• Troup County, GA (8.5)
• Clarke County, GA (8.5)
• DeKalb County, GA (8.4)
• Bibb County, GA (7.9)
• Whitfield County, GA (7.8)
• Chatham County, GA (7.6)
• Cobb County, GA (7.4)
• Fulton County, GA (5.4)

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

• Tift County, GA (75 percent)
• Treutlen County, GA (52 percent)
• Wilcox County, GA (52 percent)
• Paulding County, GA (51 percent)
• Rabun County, GA (50 percent)
• Lowndes County, GA (50 percent)
• McIntosh County, GA (48 percent)
• Dawson County, GA (46 percent)
• Miller County, GA (46 percent)
• Douglas County, GA (45 percent)

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

• Calhoun County, GA (-14 percent)
• Warren County, GA (-15 percent)
• Appling County, GA (-15 percent)
• Fulton County, GA (-18 percent)
• Wilkinson County, GA (-20 percent)
• Webster County, GA (-22 percent)
• Heard County, GA (-27 percent)
• Echols County, GA (-31 percent)
• Burke County, GA (-40 percent)
• Chattahoochee County, GA (-55 percent)

Overall, it is Georgia’s low compensation ratio, driven by both low wages and salaries and benefits, that is responsible for Georgia having the 4th best 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?