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D.C., Alaska, Hawaii tops in government employment

February 11, 2013

In the District of Columbia, 29.2 percent of employed adults in 2012 worked for the federal, state or local government , the highest rate in the country, according to a Gallup report released today. Alaska and Hawaii follow at 28.0 and 27.8 respectively. Indiana and Pennsylvania had the lowest percentages of government employees, both at less than 12 percent of employed adults.

States with the highest percentage of government workers in 2012:

  1. District of Columbia: 29.2 percent
  2. Alaska: 28.0 percent
  3. Hawaii: 27.8 percent
  4. Maryland: 25.5 percent
  5. Virginia: 22.8 percent

States with the lowest percentage of government workers in 2012: 

  1. Indiana: 11.5 percent
  2. Pennsylvania: 11.7 percent
  3. Missouri: 12.4 percent
  4. Minnesota: 12.6 percent
  5. Michigan: 12.7 percent

The results are based on the reports of 200,225 U.S. adult workers surveyed by Gallup between January and December 2012.

Although the private sector has added jobs in many recent months, the public sector has lost jobs, 24/7 Wall St. reports. The gap may widen this year as cuts in government spending accelerate. To read the story, click here.