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, Virginia has the tenth 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, #Virginia had the 10th most productive state and local #government workforce in the country http://bit.ly/2BDEhpN @keypolicydata #VApolitics #VApol #VAleg #VAsen #VAgov (click to tweet)

As shown in Chart 1, for state and local government employment in 2016, Virginia employed 16.7 employees for every 100 employees in the private sector (employment ratio) which is 7 percent above the national average of 15.7 and is the 23rd highest ratio in the country.

In 2016, #Virginia state & local #government employed 16.7 for every 100 employed in private sector—the 23rd highest ratio in the country and 7% above US average of 15.7 http://bit.ly/2BDEhpN @keypolicydata #VApolitics #VApol #VAleg #VAsen #VAgov  (click to tweet)

Additionally, Virginia’s employment ratio has been increasing. As shown in Chart 2, between 1969 and 2016, the employment ratio increased by 1 percent to 16.7 in 2016 from 16.6 in 1969. This increase is less 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 4 percent more than those in the private sector (compensation ratio) which is significantly lower than the national average of 14 percent and is the 12th lowest compensation ratio in the country.

In 2016, #Virginia state & local #government compensation was 4% higher than in the private sector—the 12th lowest ratio in the country and well below US average of 14% http://bit.ly/2BDEhpN @keypolicydata #VApolitics #VApol #VAleg #VAsen #VAgov  (click to tweet)

Additionally, Virginia’s compensation ratio has been decreasing. As shown in Chart 4, between 1969 and 2016, the compensation ratio decreased by 3 percentage points to 4 percent in 2016 from 7 percent in 1969. This is in 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 Virginia’s low government compensation ratio. For state and local wages and salaries in 2016, Virginia employees earn -17 percent less than those in the private sector which is the 5th 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, Virginia employees earn 122 percent more than those in the private sector which is -4 percent lower than the national average of 127 percent and is the 12th 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 Virginia.

The Virginia counties with the highest local government employment ratios include (state average is 11.7):

• Culpeper County, VA (46.4)
• Dickenson County, VA (40.8)
• Mecklenburg County, VA (40.5)
• Nelson County, VA (37.8)
• Chesterfield County, VA (37.6)
• Greene County, VA (37.3)
• King George County, VA (35.4)
• Caroline County, VA (34.6)
• Isle of Wight County, VA (32.7)
• Franklin County, VA (31.8)

The Virginia counties with the lowest local government employment ratios include (state average is 11.7):

• Alleghany County Covington, VA (9.9)
• Henrico County, VA (9.3)
• Chesapeake (Independent City), VA (9.1)
• Roanoke (Independent City), VA (8.6)
• Fairfax County, Fairfax City + Falls Church, VA (8.5)
• Campbell County + Lynchburg, VA (8.2)
• Arlington County, VA (8.2)
• Suffolk (Independent City), VA (7.4)
• Highland County, VA (7.3)
• Grayson County, VA (6.0)

The Virginia counties with the highest local government compensation ratios include (state average is 2 percent):

• Goochland County, VA (47 percent)
• Northumberland County, VA (45 percent)
• Tazewell County, VA (38 percent)
• Wythe County, VA (37 percent)
• Loudoun County, VA (37 percent)
• Carroll County + Galax, VA (36 percent)
• Shenandoah County, VA (34 percent)
• Greensville County + Emporia, VA (34 percent)
• Halifax County, VA (34 percent)
• Pulaski County, VA (33 percent)

The Virginia counties with the lowest local government compensation ratios include (state average is 2 percent):

• Franklin County, VA (-13 percent)
• James City County + Williamsburg, VA (-14 percent)
• Buckingham County, VA (-15 percent)
• Lunenburg County, VA (-15 percent)
• Caroline County, VA (-18 percent)
• Botetourt County, VA (-27 percent)
• Rockingham County + Harrisonburg, VA (-27 percent)
• King William County, VA (-41 percent)
• Grayson County, VA (-45 percent)
• Sussex County, VA (-54 percent)

 Note: The Bureau of Economic Analysis treats the larger independent cities as county-equivalents and merges smaller independent cities with the surrounding county.

Overall, it is Virginia’s low compensation ratio, driven by both low wages and salaries and benefits, that is responsible for Virginia having the 10th 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?