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, Idaho has the twenty-second 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, #Idaho had the 22nd most productive state and local #government workforce in the country http://bit.ly/2BDEhpN @keypolicydata #IDpol #IDleg (click to tweet)

As shown in Chart 1, for state and local government employment in 2016, Idaho employed 19.0 employees for every 100 employees in the private sector (employment ratio) which is 21 percent above the national average of 15.7 and is the 11th highest Ratio in the country.

In 2016, #Idaho state & local #government employed 19.0 for every 100 employed in private sector—the 11th highest ratio in the country and 21% above US average of 15.7 http://bit.ly/2BDEhpN @keypolicydata #IDpol #IDleg (click to tweet)

Additionally, Idaho’s employment ratio has been decreasing. As shown in Chart 2, between 1969 and 2016, the employment ratio decreased by -14 percent to 19.0 in 2016 from 22.1 in 1969. This is 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 -45 percent lower than the national average of 14 percent and is the 19th lowest compensation ratio in the country.

In 2016, #Idaho state & local #government compensation was 7% higher than in the private sector—the 19th lowest ratio in the country and -45% below US average of 14% http://bit.ly/2BDEhpN @keypolicydata #IDpol #IDleg (click to tweet)

Additionally, Idaho’s compensation ratio has been increasing. As shown in Chart 4, between 1969 and 2016, the compensation ratio increased by 21 percentage points to 7 percent in 2016 from -14 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 Idaho’s lower than average government compensation ratio. For state and local wages and salaries in 2016, Idaho employees earn -11 percent less than those in the private sector which is the 19th lowest wages and salaries ratio in the country and lower than the national average of -8 percent.

For state and local benefits in 2016, Idaho employees earn 91 percent more than those in the private sector which is -29 percent lower than the national average of 127 percent and is the 16th 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 Idaho.

The Idaho counties with the highest local government employment ratios include (state average is 13.5):

• Clark County, ID (98.7) [see note below]
• Bear Lake County, ID (57.4)
• Oneida County, ID (54.0)
• Benewah County, ID (50.1)
• Owyhee County, ID (42.8)
• Franklin County, ID (41.1)
• Boundary County, ID (36.9)
• Fremont County (includes Yellowstone Park), ID (34.9)
• Bingham County, ID (34.2)
• Lincoln County, ID (33.1)

The Idaho counties with the lowest local government employment ratios include (state average is 13.5):

• Cassia County, ID (15.3)
• Nez Perce County, ID (14.2)
• Madison County, ID (14.1)
• Jerome County, ID (13.4)
• Twin Falls County, ID (12.8)
• Bannock County, ID (11.6)
• Blaine County, ID (11.2)
• Bonneville County, ID (10.6)
• Ada County, ID (7.3)
• Butte County, ID (2.0)

The Idaho counties with the highest local government compensation ratios include (state average is 4 percent):

• Lemhi County, ID (45 percent)
• Madison County, ID (39 percent)
• Kootenai County, ID (38 percent)
• Gem County, ID (34 percent)
• Blaine County, ID (30 percent)
• Bonner County, ID (28 percent)
• Bear Lake County, ID (26 percent)
• Teton County, ID (25 percent)
• Valley County, ID (23 percent)
• Elmore County, ID (22 percent)

The Idaho counties with the lowest local government compensation ratios include (state average is 4 percent):

• Oneida County, ID (-8 percent)
• Jefferson County, ID (-9 percent)
• Clearwater County, ID (-10 percent)
• Cassia County, ID (-11 percent)
• Shoshone County, ID (-13 percent)
• Power County, ID (-19 percent)
• Caribou County, ID (-35 percent)
• Camas County, ID (-55 percent)
• Butte County, ID (-65 percent)
• Clark County, ID (-73 percent) [see note below]

Note: The 2016 Clark County, ID employment and compensation ratios are based on linearly extrapolated data post-1998. There was a significant increase in government employment and earnings between 1996 and 1998 which may be creating an upward bias in the extrapolations. That said, in 1998, the actual BEA data yields an employment ratio of 34.4 and a compensation ratio of -19 percent. Thus, the potential issue is one of magnitude and not direction.

Overall, it is Idaho’s lower than average compensation ratio, driven by both low wages and salaries and benefits, that is responsible for Idaho having the 22nd 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?