WSJ: Gov’t Workers Outnumber Construction, Farming, Fishing, Forestry, Manufacturing, Mining, & Utilities Workers Combined
- Posted on April 1, 2011 at 9:21am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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Early this morning the government released jobs numbers that offered some hope. Then Stephen Moore printed this article in the Wall Street Journal that may just suck every last bit of said hope out of you: more people work for the government than work in construction, farming, fishing, forestry, manufacturing, mining and utilities combined.
Here are the depressing numbers:
Today in America there are nearly twice as many people working for the government (22.5 million) than in all of manufacturing (11.5 million). This is an almost exact reversal of the situation in 1960, when there were 15 million workers in manufacturing and 8.7 million collecting a paycheck from the government.
It gets worse. More Americans work for the government than work in construction, farming, fishing, forestry, manufacturing, mining and utilities combined. We have moved decisively from a nation of makers to a nation of takers. Nearly half of the $2.2 trillion cost of state and local governments is the $1 trillion-a-year tab for pay and benefits of state and local employees. Is it any wonder that so many states and cities cannot pay their bills?
Every state in America today except for two—Indiana and Wisconsin—has more government workers on the payroll than people manufacturing industrial goods. Consider California, which has the highest budget deficit in the history of the states. The not-so Golden State now has an incredible 2.4 million government employees—twice as many as people at work in manufacturing. New Jersey has just under two-and-a-half as many government employees as manufacturers. Florida’s ratio is more than 3 to 1. So is New York’s.
Even Michigan, at one time the auto capital of the world, and Pennsylvania, once the steel capital, have more government bureaucrats than people making things. The leaders in government hiring are Wyoming and New Mexico, which have hired more than six government workers for every manufacturing worker.
Read the rest here.
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Comments (108)
powhatan
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 11:11amPray..pray..pray…I fear it is about all we have left. Liberalism/Communism is just plain evil.
Report Post »Hollywood
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 10:46pmPrayer is right. Have no fear. WE know WHO is in control.
Report Post »Maranatha.
SHOESHINEBOY
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 11:11amMrs. Margaret Thatcher
I would much prefer to bring them down as soon as possible. I think they‘ve made the biggest financial mess that any government’s ever made in this country for a very long time, and Socialist governments traditionally do make a financial mess. They always run out of other people’s money. It’s quite a characteristic of them. They then start to nationalise everything, and people just do not like more and more nationalisation, and they’re now trying to control everything by other means. They’re progressively reducing the choice available to ordinary people.
Report Post »Hollywood
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 10:51pmWHO is THEY? Voters?
Report Post »Zorro6821
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 11:07amWe are now officially the most Socialist Country in he World, without the benefits for the working stiff.
Report Post »Include all the welfare recips and food stamp recips…..who is left to pay, the working no union sucker.
When you have a Country of takers that out strip the makers, you have a recipe for economical meltdown. We are seeing this happen right before our eyes. This is beyond social justice. I for one call all political elected (appointed) officials Elite Welfare Recipients.
fixer
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 11:05amVote in 2012!! Vote for whoever agrees to cut the Govt. by at LEAST 50%.
Report Post »kspatriot
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 11:02amI doubt farmers will unionize across the board. Maybe in Liberal Sates. Commodity prices are good (what you would call high) now, but they are at levels that farmers can actually make a profit. Most years the farmers are LOSING money.
Report Post »Kirsten
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 11:01amWhich soviet leader was it that said that they would take us over without a shot being fired?? How prophetic.
Report Post »***** joe
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 10:49amPublic employee leeches, their also making 2 times the money of their private sector peers.
public sector, union workers, greedy leeches………..have bankrupted this great nation…..off with their heads!
Report Post »gman4691
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 10:24amYeah, how can we call this an independent nation with so many people who have CHOSEN to be dependent on the government…it’s depressing.
Report Post »Catfish
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 10:31amLooks like the arabs have the right idea , just go take over, I dont think we the people can do it at the ballot box anymore, to many free loaders drawing goverment checks, I guess if we all quit they will commit sucide, just a thought
Report Post »positive1
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 10:27amOur government created this financial problem we are dealing with. This problem is rooted in the Universities until this problem is fixed it will only get worse. Student loans, grants, GI bills are a drug to the universities only driving the tuition cost thru the roof because they are greedy. Every graduate expects a great paying job even if the job can be preformed by a high school graduate. The environmental movement is proving this fact in Spain. The green jobs are taking the wages of 2 people to pay the college graduate degreed environmentalist higher wages, this practice is gaining traction here in America and driving up unemployment around the world.
Report Post »Justa Citizen
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 10:07amThe sooner we get these folks off the Gov’t tit the better. Goverment is not the solution, it is the problem. We succeed or fail on our own. It is not the Goverment’s purveiw to decide. A “real” Citizen understands.
Report Post »gman4691
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 10:22amYou are correct, sir. Government doesn‘t seem to understand that you can’t put people to work if you insist on paying them to stay home.
Report Post »EqualJustice
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 10:03amBecause Central Planning ALWAYS works out SO well, like in ……RUSSIA, where they NOW HAVE CAPITALISM and more millionaires per capita than any other country! hmmmm
Report Post »Revere2
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 10:00amnothing will change until we force a change.
Report Post »psst
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 9:56amSo what’s new here.
Report Post »This is the coming new ameriKa way. Why do you think Soetoro wants to grow the government?
The new ameriKan way will be the bosses supporting the employees in lifestyles the bosses cannot afford for themselves.
The problem will come to a head when there are no bosses, only employees.
Ain’t gonn be any boss or bosses around to sign the paychecks.
it’s the new Dope and Mange kind of Country we were promised.
What!!? ya did not hear Barry Soetoro said he was going to radically alter America?
The Moslem marxist IS keeping his word. That’s more than I can say for many pols.
starman70
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 9:50amAnd we wonder why states are going broke? I bet this isn’t the only state topheavy with government employees.
Report Post »WTFHappenedToTheUSA
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 9:50amThis is no longer a government of the people, this is no longer a free country.
I can only I imagine WTF would happen if this AH dictator was able to win again in 2012.
I truly fear for the next generations.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 10:13amHe amazingly still has close to half the country who WILL vote for him. That leaves us fighting for the “undecideds”. If you are “undecided” at this point, you’re an idiot. So, we’re fighting for the idiot vote to save the country. Unbelievable.
Report Post »I SPY
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 9:50amThis country is in desperate need of a real LEADER.
Report Post »theLarry
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 9:46amTrump is the solution, along with our own OIL!! we need a hatchet man in office who will pronounce a blanket “YOU’RE FIRED” to the bloated government. Re-boot the government.
Report Post »Ellbee
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 10:11amAnd he may be the only one who would actually do it.
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 11:02amRand Paul I think would be the too.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 9:46amIt’s the civilian army Obama talked about building…mission accomplished.
Report Post »wise grandma
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 9:41amThis does not surprise me. I once worked for goverment. Every supervisor would pad their department with people. It gave them more power and more money to do what ever they wanted. I can’t begin to tell you how over staffed every department was. I always did my job as well as expected but I was the only one in the department that did so. I was not popular to say the least. Because I am a Christian I believed it was the right thing to do, that also made me unpopular.
Report Post »suzpenn
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 9:39amWhat’s that tell you? Time to get back to common sense. We are being over run – by our government. Yesterday it was reported that 2/3 of our oil and gas leases are not being used. Makes no sense! However you feel about Trump – the man is right about how we are being screwed by OPEC and China. And Immelt and GE paying 0 taxes is down right theft. When will we learn? When will we make the necessary changes?
Report Post »Ellbee
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 10:00amDonald was wishy washy on the union question. I had hoped for a tough stand on that issue. I’d like to see massive gov cuts. Entire departments trashed. After all, some do nothing but drain the coffers. Dept of Education, IRS (need a flat tax!) are the biggest.
Report Post »suzpenn
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 11:14am@Ellbee – I hear you, I‘m not sure if it was ’wishy washy’ on the Unions. As a businessman in New York he deals a lot with the Unions. However, he would not ‘knock’ Walker and his efforts in Wisconsin with the Public Unions. I believe that’s the difference. It’s early, and I’m waiting to hear more from all.
I like Cain, West, Bachmann – Palin, West, Huckabee are not running. Hey, if Trump’s the candidate (and he brings a lot of ‘yikes’ to the table) my main concerns are, can he win and would America be better off with four years of him vs Obama. I do believe West is a viable candidate for 2016 and the Tea Party isn’t going away! Trump has the financing and we’re lookin at 1 Billion for the 2012 election – Trump can do 600 million on his own. One thing for sure, his pro business stance, is what we need – jobs. Without a vibrant economy – nothing gets resolved.
Now if Trump can merge with the Tea Party’s ideals of smaller limited government and make peace with Paul that would be a big plus. I’d not rule out Romney, Pawlenty, or Cain either – too early. We ‘ain’t’ gonna be able to even begin to resolve our problems with 4 more years of Obama and We must take back the Senate. Obama is a Soros candidate too, and from what I’ve learned of Trump – he does love this country and the free market enterprise – Soros, the ass hat who would be King, does not.
Report Post »Ellbee
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 3:19pmSUZPENN-
Report Post »You are right. I wanted a flat denunciation of the unions and what he said didn’t fit the bill, but I (grudgingly admit that I) understand why he answered that way.
I like Cain, West and Bachman as well. Don’t think Palin has a chance. Trump is not a politician or a ‘crap taker’ and is a brilliant businessman. That’s why I like him for POTUS. I’d like to see a Trump/West ticket or Trump/Cain. That would bring black votes, I believe, from those who look to see what color the candidate is and vote accordingly.
**can’t begin to resolve our problems with 4 more years of oblahblah? I’m just hoping the country can withstand the time left in THIS term. There are no resolutions for any of our issues anywhere on the horizon. Just blatent moves to ruin the country.
As someone else said the other day: A jar of pickles is more qualified than o.
Now if the Donald would get a team busy exposing some little funFACTS that he can use in debates…
MySacredHonor
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 9:34amF.A. Hayek must be rolling over in his grave!
we need to fire at least 3/4 of ALL government workers.. starting with the middle management area. those are the total leeches, then, Teachers need to be evaluated on PERFORMANCE… exclusively! and weeded next. Then, IF AND ONLY IF, we still need to get rid of more do we even begin to look at COPS, or FIREFIGHTERS.
How’s that for a plan?
Report Post »natstew
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 10:10amStarting with middle management?? How about starting at the top?
Report Post »MySacredHonor
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 10:42amwell the top are the elected ones… seems a different issue, but i’m willing to go there.
Report Post »DrFrost
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 2:55pmDifferent issue indeed. How’s the saying go?
“People usually get the government they deserve.”
Report Post »wwjcdo
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 9:33amAnd let’s not forget all the millions of dead beat folks on the free ride “Nanny State” handout programs.I sure hope the next President has some scruples and fearlessness.
Report Post »starman70
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 9:55amThat’s why there are so many government workers. At the normal snail’s pace at which government workers perform, it takes an army just to administer welfare payments and oversee all the nanny state programs.
Report Post »cessna152
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 9:31amWell… now they have an ever growing voting block. This trend is very hard to reverse… until they run out of money…which always is the case with BIG government countries! Sad…very sad..
Report Post »Deb C
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 12:53pmBut…but…but….working for the government is like….working for YOURSELF….yes ?
Report Post »matt708
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 9:28amreally time to shrink the gov’t
Report Post »tommee
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 9:43amCan you imagine what the unemployment rate would be without government workers?
Report Post »brntout
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 10:09am@ TOMMEE Certainly would be cheering those numbers!It would mean the private sector numbers would more than make up for it.
Report Post »BSdetector
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 10:54amHope and Change, Tomee. Without the burden of all the money being sucked out of the economy to pay for those gov’t workers, the private sector would be free to create several jobs for each gov’t job axed.
Report Post »G.W. Dobbs
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 12:25pmEveryone works for the CORPORATION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. The Corporation is into Banking, Automotive, Energy, Agriculture, Education, Defense…YOU ARE THEIRS. PERIOD. So, do as told.
http://www.serendipity.li/jsmill/us_corporation.htm
http://realitybloger.wordpress.com/2010/12/18/the-united-states-a-corporation/
Report Post »redneck
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 2:30pmShrinking the government requires reducing government workers. Obama is incapable of making that move while he’s in office.
Report Post »Hollywood
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 10:49pmTOMMIE! YUP, I can, but I suspect that is not the response you want. THEREFORE, LETS ALL work for the Gov’t, EXCEPT for you. How much do you make?
Report Post »tommee
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 10:20amHey BSDETECTOR
What’s stopping the private sector from creating all those new jobs now? Corporations have record amounts of cash in their coffers. Do you really believe business will be more likely to expand when a huge portion of high paying jobs in the country are lost to low paying alternatives?
Business leaders are successful because they are smart people. They will expand their operations when demand increases for their products, when they know they can sell their goods and services. Cutting high paying jobs in favor of at or near minimum wage positions is not a way to increase demand.
Report Post »brntout
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 9:28amI could not believe it when I heard the farmers were going to unionize yesterday.Think food prices are high now….Get the gov’t unionizing the __________ under control.
Report Post »MYTXTREGISTER.COM
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 9:33amWe have a country filled with willing able-bodied men and women who could do the jobs well… we need to find a way to increase manufacturing again.
Report Post »======================================
Help get our country’s financial house in order by starting with your own house – http://mytxtregister.com
PavZilla
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 9:37amIs that why those goats were wandering around NJ yesterday, they wanted to buck the union system and head elsewhere? Herd of union billy goats, gruff!
Report Post »Anti_Spock
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 9:47amWelcome to the collective of supermassive government. Now get back to work all you menial drones.
Report Post »tobywil2
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 9:53amI fear that the Republic is doomed. The only bright spot is that I am almost 80 years old and with Obamacare, I probably won’t last much longer.
I feel very sorry for the future Entrepreneurs that will never be allowed to produce the wealth as their forefathers did.
The first success of the wanabe tyrants occurred with the creation of the ICC (Interstate Commerce Commision) in the late 1880′s. Thousands of years of evolution required to create our Republic has been undone in just over 100 years.
May God bless and save our Republic!
http://commonsense21c.com/
Report Post »absolutely
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 10:04amSooooo basically, we have had a fake economy created while the government was expanding and now we can’t even afford them. CRASH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Absolutely
Report Post »hauschild
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 10:17amMy Dad tried the NFO back in the 1960‘s and 1970’s, but quickly realized they couldn’t compete with market forces. However, back then, I doubt there was as much government money and power backing unions as there is now. Back then, it was also slightly more about the worker than the leader. Now, it’s clearly all about the heads of unions.
The experience my pops went thru was a turning point in my own ideology at a very young age. So, I guess I do have something to thank liberals for.
http://www.wisfarmer.com/news/115499034.html
Report Post »tankerBigRed1
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 10:21amI be a farmer & nobody asked me to join a union — maybe day be scared to ask?
Report Post »tankerBigRed1
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 10:23amBTY – it isn‘t looking like it’s going to be a very good year for crops- if that’s the way it pans out it will be the 3rd year in a row w/ yields= high food prices…
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 10:28amAdd in the collectivization of our mindset, where “we” always comes before “I” now when speaking of advertising, schools and media.
Just wait, soon, we‘ll be living in Ayn Rand’s nightmare world from “Anthem” after we take a long painful journey there through “Atlas Shrugged”. But hey, be like Gandhi and don’t resist and let them do to you what they will, right? Don’t even for a moment consider stepping outside of this highly rigged game, because then you might not be able to have a big screen television.
Meh.
Report Post »watchtheotherhand
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 10:33amMark my words………We (and by we I mean the global community not just the world) are heading for the edge of a financial cliff. It is coming, gathering strength like storm clouds off in the distance. Right now we hear the rumblings of thunder far off and only the smell of rain, but to put your head in the sand and pretend that a storm is not brewing and headed our way is a mystifying display of ignorance or denial or both. Very few folks realize the fragility of the American and world economy. With the added pressures of countries going bankrupt and many on the verge, combined with conflicts and wars and political upheaval placing financial pressure on commodities and distribution, combined with the increased corporate greed of those who see where we are headed, we are speeding up not slowing down the free fall. Many people have been fooled to think we are in recovery, but I am afraid that many don’t understand economics the way experts look at these patterns and prognosticators and they are trying to sound the sirens. Unfortunately, few are listening. There is a reason gold and silver are way way up. Of course politicians are going to put their positive spin on things, their livelihood and power is at stake in a manner of speaking. Why would anyone trust anything they say in this regard? Amazing how we try to stroke our comfort and tell ourselves difficult times won’t fall upon us. To suggest it isn‘t or that it isn’t possible demonstrates how little that person knows about economics.
Report Post »dawg of gawd
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 10:47amGovt workers (and contractors) outnumbered private sector employees beginning when? Early 2007. Bush was president, Democrats were only just in control.
Maybe you need to THINK before you THINK.
duh huh duh huh duh huh
Report Post »watchtheotherhand
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 11:04am@ DIP OF STICK……………Maybe you should listen to your own advice.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102074764
Report Post »redneck
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 11:18amNext months employment numbers expected to increase as we send more people to fix Japans Nuclear reactors. Will they return?
Report Post »Sgt.Crust
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 11:29amThe Republic is being killed by illegals, entitlements, communists and the fraud in the WH, when do we get to stand up for our country? This is a bunch of BS, and I am not gonna stand for it, are you? Vote these progressive charlitans OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »smithclar3nc3
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 11:49amThey’ve been creating a voting block that will give them ultimate power by making it a government depended. England did the same thing and are now in the process of cutting government jobs.
Report Post »And are finding out it’s alot easier to give entitlements than removing entitlements.
restorehope
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 12:35pmFarmers are already getting paid not to grow crops. Why do they need a union? If they have some beef (no pun intended), get a lawyer, not a union.
Report Post »colonial10
Posted on April 1, 2011 at 1:42pmThis ties in with giving foreign banks our money. Our tax dollars. Then they probably spend it on crappy programs as well as our government. We need a George Washington or maybe a few thousand George’s to handle this. Our politicians have no honor. Only self honor. City and state. I’m calling out the ones who need to be called out.
Report Post »tommee
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 12:08amHey Ghost… Just a reminder:
“WE the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect UNION, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquillity, provide for the COMMON defense, promote the GENERAL Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America”.
As a reader of Hegel you must realize that the dialectic unfolds with a synthesis of opposites into a whole. To think of the “I” without the “We’ is not only meaningless but self destructive. A healthy collective is necessary for a healthy individual.
Report Post »gman4691
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 10:15amWe’ve seen dem presidents w/repub congresses, repub presidents w/dem congresses, dem presidents w/dem congresses, & repub presidents with repub congresses…the only consistency is that the hole they’ve have been (and are still) digging has only gotten larger…strangely the growth in debt appears to be proportional to the growth in government…neither party can claim innocence. The only difference is that the repubs dig with pick-axes and shovels while the dems dig with track-hoes & steam shovels…same result either way…the hole gets bigger…so everyone knock it off with the partisan crap…government, no matter which party in charge, needs to get the message.
Report Post »tommee
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 10:30amHey GMAN4691… I suggest you check your numbers. Historically, the debt has increased under Republican rule far more than under the Democrats. Reagen left office with a huge deficit. Clinton’s deficit was balanced. GW blew that to smithereens. It’s too early to judge Obama… he’s still got another six years to clean up the mess :-)
Report Post »sleazyhippo
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 2:20pmAre we talking Military? CIA? Department of State? Growing for National Security and fear abatement!
FBI? Border Patrol? FEMA? – Keep growing rapidly due to state security Demands
TSA? (100% Bush) Department Homeland Security-departmental bureaucrats (All Bush-invented)
Are we counting the 236,000 “deployed security contractors” who cost us $550,000.00/Y?
Report Post »