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, West Virginia has the fifteenth 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, #WestVirginia had the 15th most productive state and local #government workforce in the country http://bit.ly/2BDEhpN @keypolicydata #WVpol #WVleg #WVsen #WVgov (click to tweet)

As shown in Chart 1, for state and local government employment in 2016, West Virginia employed 22.1 employees for every 100 employees in the private sector (employment ratio) which is 41 percent above the national average of 15.7 and is the 6th highest ratio in the country.

In 2016, #WestVirginia state & local #government employed 22.1 for every 100 employed in private sector—the 6th highest ratio in the country and 41% above US average of 15.7 http://bit.ly/2BDEhpN @keypolicydata #WVpol #WVleg #WVsen #WVgov  (click to tweet)

Additionally, West Virginia’s employment ratio has been increasing. As shown in Chart 2, between 1969 and 2016, the employment ratio increased by 17 percent to 22.1 in 2016 from 18.9 in 1969. This is a much faster growth rate compared 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 1 percent more than those in the private sector (compensation ratio) which is -90 percent lower than the national average of 14 percent and is the 8th lowest compensation ratio in the country.

In 2016, #WestVirginia state & local #government compensation was 1% higher than in the private sector—the 8th lowest ratio in the country and -90 percent below US average of 14% http://bit.ly/2BDEhpN @keypolicydata #WVpol #WVleg #WVsen #WVgov  (click to tweet)

Additionally, West Virginia’s compensation ratio has been increasing. As shown in Chart 4, between 1969 and 2016, the compensation ratio increased by 27 percentage points to 1 percent in 2016 from -26 percent in 1969. This is a faster 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, both wages and salaries and benefits contribute to West Virginia’s lower than average government compensation ratio. For state and local wages and salaries in 2016, West Virginia employees earn -9 percent less than those in the private sector which is the 24th lowest wages and salaries ratio in the country and lower than the national average of -8 percent.

For state and local benefits in 2016, West Virginia employees earn 46 percent more than those in the private sector which is -64 percent lower than the national average of 127 percent and is the 3rd 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 West Virginia.

The West Virginia counties with the highest local government employment ratios include (state average is 12.8):

• Wirt County, WV (75.3)
• McDowell County, WV (41.3)
• Clay County, WV (39.8)
• Webster County, WV (37.4)
• Doddridge County, WV (37.3)
• Lincoln County, WV (37.0)
• Taylor County, WV (34.6)
• Boone County, WV (32.6)
• Summers County, WV (30.7)
• Monroe County, WV (29.9)

The West Virginia counties with the lowest local government employment ratios include (state average is 12.8):

• Wood County, WV (10.1)
• Harrison County, WV (9.7)
• Raleigh County, WV (9.6)
• Randolph County, WV (9.5)
• Kanawha County, WV (9.4)
• Ohio County, WV (9.2)
• Hardy County, WV (9.0)
• Putnam County, WV (8.9)
• Cabell County, WV (6.9)
• Monongalia County, WV (6.8)

The West Virginia counties with the highest local government compensation ratios include (state average is 0 percent):

• Pocahontas County, WV (39 percent)
• Nicholas County, WV (28 percent)
• Wetzel County, WV (25 percent)
• Mercer County, WV (25 percent)
• Jefferson County, WV (24 percent)
• Raleigh County, WV (22 percent)
• Webster County, WV (20 percent)
• Hampshire County, WV (19 percent)
• Randolph County, WV (19 percent)
• Wirt County, WV (19 percent)

The West Virginia counties with the lowest local government compensation ratios include (state average is 0 percent):

• Lewis County, WV (-12 percent)
• Mingo County, WV (-12 percent)
• Taylor County, WV (-13 percent)
• Tyler County, WV (-15 percent)
• McDowell County, WV (-16 percent)
• Summers County, WV (-20 percent)
• Marshall County, WV (-25 percent)
• Monongalia County, WV (-26 percent)
• Doddridge County, WV (-28 percent)
• Pleasants County, WV (-34 percent)

Overall, it is West Virginia’s lower than average compensation ratio, driven by both low wages and salaries and benefits, that is responsible for West Virginia having the 15th 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?