Government workers vs. Private sector

[Magox]

Looks as if people who work for the government have a different outlook on the econonomy than the private sector.

 

I wonder why?

 

Today, 46% of government employees say the economy is getting better while just 31% say it’s getting worse. Among those who work in the private sector, the numbers are reversed: 32% say better and 49% worse.

 

Twenty-four percent (24%) of government employees rate the economy as good or excellent while just nine percent (9%) of those in the private sector are so upbeat.

 

Fifty-five percent (55%) in the private sector rate the economy as poor, a pessimism shared by 38% of those on the public payroll.

 

Forty-four percent (44%) of government employees rate their own personal finances as good or excellent while 33% of private sector workers do the same.

 

Among those on the government payroll, 31% say their finances are getting better, and 40% say they’re getting worse. The comparable private sector numbers are 23% better and 47% worse.

 

These figures reflect a dramatic change from January 2009, with a growing optimism among government workers. During the course of this year, there has been a significant increase in government spending and a government takeover of General Motors.

 

The Obama administration estimates that federal spending will reach 28% of GDP in 2009, up from 19% a decade ago. It’s the largest share of the economy consumed by the federal government since the fighting stopped in World War II.

[Dave_In_Norfolk]

Looks as if people who work for the government have a different outlook on the econonomy than the private sector.

 

I wonder why?

I know that 1 in every 11 workers works for local governments. I read that somewhere. I'd bet something like 50% of all workers work for the government at some level. And all the other workers dependent on government contracts and you have a heck of a lot of people dependent on government.

[BuffalOhio]

Having just retired from the Coast Guard after 26 years and several recessions, I can tell you that the word recession never had an effect on me until I retired. The security of a federal position is second to none, and it's a good feeling to know your pay will always be there. Now I understand, and I have more compassion for those that are out of work and having hard times. Heck, it'll probably be me in a couple months.

[Magox]

I know that 1 in every 11 workers works for local governments. I read that somewhere. I'd bet something like 50% of all workers work for the government at some level. And all the other workers dependent on government contracts and you have a heck of a lot of people dependent on government.

It's simple, the government is spending and expanding at the fastest rate that we have ever seen, add that with the average pay for a federal employee topping over $100,000 a year, this makes for a confident group of people.

 

For feds, more get 6-figure salaries

Average pay $30,000 over private sector

USA TODAY

 

The number of federal workers earning six-figure salaries has exploded during the recession, according to a USA TODAY analysis of federal salary data.

 

Federal employees making salaries of $100,000 or more jumped from 14% to 19% of civil servants during the recession's first 18 months — and that's before overtime pay and bonuses are counted.

 

Federal workers are enjoying an extraordinary boom time — in pay and hiring — during a recession that has cost 7.3 million jobs in the private sector.

 

The highest-paid federal employees are doing best of all on salary increases. Defense Department civilian employees earning $150,000 or more increased from 1,868 in December 2007 to 10,100 in June 2009, the most recent figure available.

 

When the recession started, the Transportation Department had only one person earning a salary of $170,000 or more. Eighteen months later, 1,690 employees had salaries above $170,000.

 

The trend to six-figure salaries is occurring throughout the federal government, in agencies big and small, high-tech and low-tech. The primary cause: substantial pay raises and new salary rules.

 

Oh, and 3 out of the 4 wealthiest districts in the U.S are suburbs of D.C

[IDBillzFan]

I know that 1 in every 11 workers works for local governments. I read that somewhere. I'd bet something like 50% of all workers work for the government at some level. And all the other workers dependent on government contracts and you have a heck of a lot of people dependent on government.

I actually read recently that more than 50% of the country relies on the government, in one form or another, for their job security. That may mean you are on the government payroll, or are a government contractor, or a government subcontractor, or manufacture and/or sell products that the government purchases.

 

Think about that for a minute. More than HALF of the working US population relies on the government for job security.

 

That should make every man, woman and child crap purple twinkies.

[John Adams]

It's simple, the government is spending and expanding at the fastest rate that we have ever seen, add that with the average pay for a federal employee topping over $100,000 a year, this makes for a confident group of people.

 

Not quite but still a good point.

 

The growth in six-figure salaries has pushed the average federal worker's pay to $71,206, compared with $40,331 in the private sector.

[Magox]

Not quite but still a good point.

thanks

[John Adams]

thanks

 

Not a problem. I almost fell out of my chair when I read 100K and felt only slightly better seeing 70. We should outsource it all for 15K/year and no benefits.