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, Maine has the twentieth 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, #Maine had the 20th least productive state and local government workforce in the country http://bit.ly/2BDEhpN @keypolicydata #MEpolitics (click to tweet)

As shown in Chart 1, for state and local government employment in 2016, Maine employed 16.3 employees for every 100 employees in the private sector (employment ratio) which is 4 percent above the national average of 15.7 and is 25th highest ratio in the country.

In 2016, #Maine state & local #government employed 16.3 for every 100 employed in private sector—the 25th highest ratio in the country and 4% above the US average of 15.7 http://bit.ly/2BDEhpN @keypolicydata #MEpolitics (click to tweet)

Additionally, Maine’s employment ratio has been decreasing. As shown in Chart 2, between 1969 and 2016, the employment ratio shrank by -3 percent to 16.3 in 2016 from 16.8 in 1969. This decrease is in contrast 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, Maine government employees earn 15 percent more than those in the private sector (compensation ratio) which is 8 percent higher than the national average of 14 percent and is the 19th highest compensation ratio in the country.

In 2016, #Maine state & local #government compensation was 15% higher than in the private sector—the 19th highest ratio in the country and 8% above US average of 14% http://bit.ly/2BDEhpN @keypolicydata #MEpolitics (click to tweet)

Additionally, Maine’s compensation ratio has been increasing. As shown in Chart 4, between 1969 and 2016, the compensation ratio increased by 17 percentage points to 15 percent in 2016 from -2 percent in 1969. This growth rate is faster 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 state and local wages and salaries that are responsible for Maine’s higher than average government compensation ratio. For state and local wages and salaries in 2016, Maine employees earn -7 percent less than those in the private sector which is the 24th highest wages and salaries ratio in the country and slightly higher than the national average of -8 percent.

For state and local benefits in 2016, Maine employees earn 120 percent more than those in the private sector which is -6 percent lower than the national average of 127 percent and is the 15th 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 Maine.

The Maine local government employment ratios are (state average is 11.3, ranked from highest to lowest):

• Piscataquis County, ME (30.4)
• Washington County, ME (23.6)
• Franklin County, ME (22.4)
• Oxford County, ME (18.9)
• Aroostook County, ME (17.3)
• Waldo County, ME (14.4)
• Lincoln County, ME (14.3)
• York County, ME (14.1)
• Somerset County, ME (13.6)
• Hancock County, ME (11.5)
• Knox County, ME (11.2)
• Kennebec County, ME (10.8)
• Penobscot County, ME (10.7)
• Sagadahoc County, ME (10.1)
• Androscoggin County, ME (9.4)
• Cumberland County, ME (7.9)

 The Maine local government compensation ratios are (state average is 13 percent, ranked highest to lowest):

• Piscataquis County, ME (46 percent)
• Knox County, ME (26 percent)
• York County, ME (26 percent)
• Lincoln County, ME (24 percent)
• Waldo County, ME (23 percent)
• Androscoggin County, ME (23 percent)
• Aroostook County, ME (22 percent)
• Kennebec County, ME (18 percent)
• Hancock County, ME (18 percent)
• Penobscot County, ME (17 percent)
• Oxford County, ME (16 percent)
• Somerset County, ME (12 percent)
• Washington County, ME (11 percent)
• Cumberland County, ME (8 percent)
• Sagadahoc County, ME (-3 percent)
• Franklin County, ME (-31 percent)

Overall, it is Maine’s high employment and compensation ratio, driven by wages and salaries, that are the primary reasons for Maine having the 20th 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?