Massachusetts’s Government Workforce is the Eighteenth “Most Productive” in 2013

Aug 26, 2015

There are two major elements to look at when examining a state’s government workforce—the number of employees and the level of their pay. Each element is measured relative to the national average and summed together to obtain an overall measure of workforce productivity. By this metric, Massachusetts has the eighteenth most productive state and local government workforce in the country.

#Massachusetts has the 18th most productive S&L #government workforce in the country. (click to tweet)

As shown in Chart 1, for state and local government employment, Massachusetts ranks significantly below the national average with 13 employees for every 100 employees in the private sector—this is -21 percent below the national average of 16.4 and is the 3^rd lowest ratio in the country.

Chart 1 Massachusetts State and Local Government Employees per 100 Private Sector Employees Rank 2013.jpg

As shown in Chart 2, for state and local government compensation, Massachusetts ranks slightly below average with government employees earning 11 percent more than those in the private sector—this is -12 percent below the national average of 13 percent and is the 25^th highest compensation ratio in the country.

Chart 2 Massachusetts State and Local Government Compensation as a Percent of the Private Sector Rank 2013.jpg

As shown in Chart 3, for state and local wages and salaries, Massachusetts employees earn -11 percent less than those in the private sector—this is the 16^th lowest wages and salaries ratio in the country and below than the national average of -8 percent.

Chart 3 Massachusetts State and Local Government Wages and Salaries as a Percent of the Private Sector Rank 2013.jpg

As shown in Chart 4, for state and local benefits (pensions, health insurance, etc.), Massachusetts employees earn 129 percent more than those in the private sector—this is 10 percent higher than the national average of 117 percent and is the 10^th highest benefit ratio in the country.

Chart 4 Massachusetts State and Local Government Benefits as a Percent of the Private Sector Rank 2013.jpg

Of course, efficiency for local government is more usefully 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 Massachusetts.

The Massachusetts counties with the highest local government employment ratios include: Dukes County (22), Franklin County (17.9), and Nantucket County (13.4). The Massachusetts counties with the lowest local government employment ratios include: Suffolk County (4.7), Middlesex County (7.4), and Norfolk County (8.6).

The Massachusetts counties with the highest local government compensation ratios include: Barnstable County (64 percent), Bristol County (48 percent), and Hampshire County (46 percent). The Massachusetts counties with the lowest local government compensation ratios include: Middlesex County (-4 percent), Suffolk County (7 percent), and Dukes County (16 percent).

Overall, it is Massachusetts’s very low government employment ratio that is the primary source of the good government workforce metric.

Click here to view our full government workforce data app with details by state, by county, level of government, and over time.

J. Scott Moody

Scott has nearly 20 years of experience as a public policy economist. He is the author, co-author and editor of over 180 studies and books. His professional experience also includes positions at the American Conservative Union Foundation, Granite Institute, Federalism In Action, Maine Heritage Policy Center, Tax Foundation, and Heritage Foundation.