Texas’s State and Local Government Workforce is the Eighth “Most Productive” in 2016

Feb 05, 2018

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, Texas has the eighth 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, #Texas had the 8^th most productive state and local #government workforce in the country http://bit.ly/2BDEhpN @keypolicydata #TXpolitics #TXpol #TXleg #TXsen #TXgov (click to tweet)

As shown in Chart 1, for state and local government employment in 2016, Texas employed 16.2 employees for every 100 employees in the private sector (employment ratio) which is 3 percent above the national average of 15.7 and is the 25^th lowest ratio in the country.

Chart 1 Texas State and Local Government Employees per 100 Private Sector Employees Rank 2016.jpg

In 2016, #Texas state & local #government employed 16.2 for every 100 employed in private sector—the 25^th lowest ratio in the country and 3% above US average of 15.7 http://bit.ly/2BDEhpN @keypolicydata #TXpolitics #TXpol #TXleg #TXsen #TXgov (click to tweet)

Additionally, Texas’s employment ratio has been increasing. As shown in Chart 2, between 1969 and 2016, the employment ratio increased by 7 percent to 16.2 in 2016 from 15.2 in 1969. This is a faster growth rate than the national average which increased by 2 percent to 15.7 in 2016 from 15.4 in 1969.

Chart 2 Texas State and Local Employment Ratio vs. U.S. Average 1969 to 2016.JPG

As shown in Chart 3, for state and local government compensation in 2016, Texas government employees earned 1 percent more than those in the private sector (compensation ratio) which is significantly lower than the national average of 14 percent and is the 7^th lowest compensation ratio in the country.

Chart 3 Texas State and Local Government Compensation as a Percent of the Private Sector Rank 2016.jpg

In 2016, #Texas state & local #government compensation was 1% higher than in the private sector—the 7^th lowest ratio in the country and well below US average of 14% http://bit.ly/2BDEhpN @keypolicydata #TXpolitics #TXpol #TXleg #TXsen #TXgov (click to tweet)

Additionally, Texas’s compensation ratio has been increasing. As shown in Chart 4, between 1969 and 2016, the compensation ratio increased by 6 percentage points to 1 percent in 2016 from -5 percent in 1969. This is a slower growth rate than the national average which increased by 15 percentage points to 14 percent in 2016 from -1 percent in 1969.

Chart 4 Texas State and Local Compensation Ratio vs. U.S. Average 1969 to 2016.JPG

As shown in Chart 5, both wages and salaries and benefits contribute to Texas’s low government compensation ratio. For state and local wages and salaries in 2016, Texas employees earn -15 percent less than those in the private sector which is the 8^th lowest wages and salaries ratio in the country and significantly lower than the national average of -8 percent.

Chart 5 Texas Components of State and Local Compensation Ratio 1969 to 2016.JPG

For state and local benefits in 2016, Texas employees earn 88 percent more than those in the private sector which is -31 percent lower than the national average of 127 percent and is the 14^th 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 Texas.

The Texas counties with the highest local government employment ratios include (state average is 12.6):

King County, TX (303.2)
Kent County, TX (168.0)
Roberts County, TX (81.4)
Cochran County, TX (79.8)
Coke County, TX (79.1)
Loving County, TX (78.0)
Stonewall County, TX (77.5)
Menard County, TX (74.0)
Mitchell County, TX (70.4)
Lynn County, TX (69.3)
Donley County, TX (68.7)
Kinney County, TX (65.0)
Newton County, TX (62.9)
San Jacinto County, TX (61.5)
Presidio County, TX (58.3)
Terrell County, TX (56.6)
Knox County, TX (54.7)
Clay County, TX (54.6)
Throckmorton County, TX (54.4)
Swisher County, TX (52.8)

The Texas counties with the lowest local government employment ratios include (state average is 12.6):

Kendall County, TX (12.1)
Denton County, TX (12.1)
Erath County, TX (12.0)
McLennan County, TX (12.0)
Kerr County, TX (12.0)
Nueces County, TX (11.8)
Comal County, TX (11.5)
Collin County, TX (11.1)
Gillespie County, TX (11.0)
Tarrant County, TX (10.8)
Midland County, TX (10.5)
Smith County, TX (10.3)
Jefferson County, TX (9.9)
Gregg County, TX (9.6)
Harris County, TX (9.3)
Carson County, TX (9.2)
Travis County, TX (8.9)
Dallas County, TX (8.2)
Dallam County, TX (7.5)
Randall County, TX (7.3)

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

Borden County, TX (106 percent)
Delta County, TX (80 percent)
Starr County, TX (78 percent)
Webb County, TX (59 percent)
Hidalgo County, TX (58 percent)
Uvalde County, TX (55 percent)
Cameron County, TX (54 percent)
Jeff Davis County, TX (50 percent)
Menard County, TX (49 percent)
Maverick County, TX (46 percent)
Presidio County, TX (44 percent)
Fayette County, TX (42 percent)
El Paso County, TX (42 percent)
Nacogdoches County, TX (41 percent)
Val Verde County, TX (40 percent)
Brooks County, TX (39 percent)
Walker County, TX (38 percent)
Goliad County, TX (38 percent)
Bastrop County, TX (38 percent)
Llano County, TX (37 percent)

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

Karnes County, TX (-20 percent)
Cottle County, TX (-23 percent)
Houston County, TX (-23 percent)
Sterling County, TX (-24 percent)
Hemphill County, TX (-24 percent)
Sutton County, TX (-25 percent)
Roberts County, TX (-25 percent)
Yoakum County, TX (-25 percent)
King County, TX (-28 percent)
Calhoun County, TX (-30 percent)
McMullen County, TX (-30 percent)
Upton County, TX (-31 percent)
Kenedy County, TX (-31 percent)
Hansford County, TX (-33 percent)
Somervell County, TX (-35 percent)
Hutchinson County, TX (-38 percent)
Irion County, TX (-39 percent)
Carson County, TX (-51 percent)
Glasscock County, TX (-56 percent)
Loving County, TX (-73 percent)

Overall, it is Texas’s low compensation ratio, driven by both low wages and salaries and benefits, that is responsible for Texas having the 8^th best state and local government workforce productivity index.

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?

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.