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, Tennessee has the twelfth 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, #Tennessee had the 12th most productive state and local #government workforce in the country http://bit.ly/2BDEhpN @keypolicydata #TNpol #TNleg #TNsen #TNgov (click to tweet)

As shown in Chart 1, for state and local government employment in 2016, Tennessee employed 14.5 employees for every 100 employees in the private sector (employment ratio) which is -8 percent below the national average of 15.7 and is the 11th lowest ratio in the country.

In 2016, #Tennessee state & local #government employed 14.5 for every 100 employed in private sector—the 11th lowest ratio in the country and -8% below US average of 15.7 http://bit.ly/2BDEhpN @keypolicydata #TNpol #TNleg #TNsen #TNgov  (click to tweet)

Additionally, Tennessee’s employment ratio has been decreasing. As shown in Chart 2, between 1969 and 2016, the employment ratio decreased by -1 percent to 14.5 in 2016 from 14.6 in 1969. This 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, government employees earned 7 percent more than those in the private sector (compensation ratio) which is significantly lower than the national average of 14 percent and is the 17th lowest compensation ratio in the country.

In 2016, #Tennessee state & local #government compensation was 7% higher than in the private sector—the 17th lowest ratio in the country and well below US average of 14% http://bit.ly/2BDEhpN @keypolicydata #TNpol #TNleg #TNsen #TNgov  (click to tweet)

Additionally, Tennessee’s compensation ratio has been increasing. As shown in Chart 4, between 1969 and 2016, the compensation ratio increased by 7 percentage points to 7 percent in 2016 from 0 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 Tennessee’s lower than average government compensation ratio. For state and local wages and salaries in 2016, Tennessee employees earn -15 percent less than those in the private sector which is the 7th 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, Tennessee 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 13th 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 Tennessee.

The Tennessee counties with the highest local government employment ratios include (state average is 10.8):

• Bledsoe County, TN (97.2)
• Hancock County, TN (81.3)
• Lake County, TN (71.7)
• Van Buren County, TN (56.1)
• Jackson County, TN (48.7)
• Houston County, TN (47.9)
• Grundy County, TN (41.6)
• Union County, TN (39.2)
• Polk County, TN (37.3)
• Sequatchie County, TN (36.0)

The Tennessee counties with the lowest local government employment ratios include (state average is 10.8):

• Sevier County, TN (9.8)
• Hamilton County, TN (9.7)
• Bradley County, TN (9.6)
• Anderson County, TN (9.6)
• Hamblen County, TN (9.3)
• Sullivan County, TN (9.1)
• Williamson County, TN (8.3)
• Shelby County, TN (7.9)
• Knox County, TN (7.6)
• Davidson County, TN (5.3)

The Tennessee counties with the highest local government compensation ratios include (state average is 3 percent):

• Morgan County, TN (99 percent)
• Sevier County, TN (68 percent)
• Putnam County, TN (42 percent)
• Montgomery County, TN (40 percent)
• Madison County, TN (36 percent)
• Benton County, TN (32 percent)
• Polk County, TN (31 percent)
• Henry County, TN (29 percent)
• Grundy County, TN (26 percent)
• Loudon County, TN (24 percent)

The Tennessee counties with the lowest local government compensation ratios include (state average is 3 percent):

• Decatur County, TN (-10 percent)
• Overton County, TN (-10 percent)
• Hardin County, TN (-14 percent)
• Unicoi County, TN (-17 percent)
• Williamson County, TN (-17 percent)
• Johnson County, TN (-18 percent)
• Humphreys County, TN (-22 percent)
• Roane County, TN (-29 percent)
• Lake County, TN (-37 percent)
• Moore County, TN (-58 percent)

Overall, it is Tennessee’s lower than average employment ratio and compensation ratio, driven by both low wages and salaries and benefits, that is responsible for Tennessee having the 12th 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?