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, North Carolina has the seventeenth 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, #North Carolina had the 17th most productive state and local #government workforce in the country http://bit.ly/2BDEhpN @keypolicydata #NCpol #NCleg #NCsen #NCgov (click to tweet)

As shown in Chart 1, for state and local government employment in 2016, North Carolina employed 17.8 employees for every 100 employees in the private sector (employment ratio) which is 14 percent above the national average of 15.7 and is the 17th highest ratio in the country.

In 2016, #North Carolina state & local #government employed 17.8 for every 100 employed in private sector—the 17th lowest ratio in the country and 14% above US average of 15.7 http://bit.ly/2BDEhpN @keypolicydata #NCpol #NCleg #NCsen #NCgov  (click to tweet)

Additionally, North Carolina’s employment ratio has been increasing. As shown in Chart 2, between 1969 and 2016, the employment ratio increased by 30 percent to 17.8 in 2016 from 13.7 in 1969. This is a significantly faster growth rate 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 6 percent more than those in the private sector (compensation ratio) which is -55 percent lower than the national average of 14 percent and is the 15th lowest compensation ratio in the country.

In 2016, #North Carolina state & local #government compensation was 6% higher than in the private sector—the 15th lowest ratio in the country and -55% below US average of 14% http://bit.ly/2BDEhpN @keypolicydata #NCpol #NCleg #NCsen #NCgov  (click to tweet)

Additionally, North Carolina’s compensation ratio has been decreasing. As shown in Chart 4, between 1969 and 2016, the compensation ratio decreased by -5 percentage points to 6 percent in 2016 from 11 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 North Carolina’s lower than average government compensation ratio. For state and local wages and salaries in 2016, North Carolina employees earn -9 percent less than those in the private sector which is the 22nd lowest wages and salaries ratio in the country and slightly lower than the national average of -8 percent.

For state and local benefits in 2016, North Carolina employees earn 85 percent more than those in the private sector which is -33 percent lower than the national average of 127 percent and is the 13th 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 North Carolina.

The North Carolina counties with the highest local government employment ratios include (state average is 12.0):

• Swain County, NC (58.0)
• Jackson County, NC (56.0)
• Jones County, NC (48.8)
• Gates County, NC (43.1)
• Camden County, NC (42.9)
• Caswell County, NC (42.6)
• Tyrrell County, NC (39.8)
• Warren County, NC (39.4)
• Perquimans County, NC (38.8)
• Hoke County, NC (34.7)

The North Carolina counties with the lowest local government employment ratios include (state average is 12.0):

• Alamance County, NC (10.1)
• Lee County, NC (10.1)
• Catawba County, NC (10.0)
• Mecklenburg County, NC (9.6)
• Forsyth County, NC (7.7)
• Watauga County, NC (7.5)
• Guilford County, NC (7.3)
• Wake County, NC (7.1)
• Buncombe County, NC (7.0)
• Durham County, NC (5.6)

The North Carolina counties with the highest local government compensation ratios include (state average is 6 percent):

• Onslow County, NC (60 percent)
• Dare County, NC (56 percent)
• Watauga County, NC (54 percent)
• Carteret County, NC (50 percent)
• Pamlico County, NC (48 percent)
• Swain County, NC (48 percent)
• Yancey County, NC (47 percent)
• Stanly County, NC (44 percent)
• Pitt County, NC (44 percent)
• Harnett County, NC (43 percent)

The North Carolina counties with the lowest local government compensation ratios include (state average is 6 percent):

• Franklin County, NC (5 percent)
• Person County, NC (4 percent)
• Granville County, NC (4 percent)
• Rowan County, NC (3 percent)
• Mecklenburg County, NC (3 percent)
• Guilford County, NC (2 percent)
• Iredell County, NC (-2 percent)
• Forsyth County, NC (-4 percent)
• Wake County, NC (-6 percent)
• Durham County, NC (-21 percent)

Overall, it is North Carolina’s lower than average compensation ratio, driven by both low wages and salaries and benefits, that is responsible for North Carolina having the 17th 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?