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More than one in 10 O.C. jobs are in government
June 19th, 2009, 1:39 pm · 38 Comments · posted by Martin Wisckol, Politics reporter
Register columnist Jonathan Lansner is perusing the latest jobs report and relays this gem:
“11.4 percent of Orange County jobs in May were government positions.”
That’s the highest share of the O.C. workforce held by federal, state and local employees since April 1995, Lansner says.
With unemployment having inched up to 8.6 percent in the county in May, it seems the government share of jobs probably has more to do with the loss of private sector work than an increase in guv work.
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DENA BUNIS, Washington bureau chief, 202-628-6381 or dbunis@ocregister.com
BRIAN JOSEPH, Sacramento correspondent, 916-449-6046 or bjoseph@ocregister.com
JENNIFER MUIR, County government reporter, 714-796-7813 or jmuir@ocregister.com
JOEL WALSH, Washington bureau intern, 202-628-6381 or jwalsh@ocregister.com
MARTIN WISCKOL, Politics reporter, 714-285-2867 or mwisckol@ocregister.com twitter.com/MartinWisckol
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So over 11% of the workforce in OC is with the Government ( state, local, fed). While the private sector economy shrinks ( largely due to high taxes driving businesses from the state to places like Texas) the government jobs stay secure. Thus with a permanently high cost of government ( and the surreal retirement benefits) and a shrinking tax base to fund it all, can anyone doubt bankruptcy was ever in doubt ??
you need government workers and services.
John,
We need some government workers and services, but not 11%.
I was looking at government jobs the other day and my jaw was dropping at how high the salaries are! No wonder we are in such a mess when the government jobs pay WAY too much for menial jobs that a 5 year old could do! Just like Congress!
And just think how many of those jobs have pensions associated with them. Aren’t pension amounts based on a percentage of the salary amounts? The higher the salary, the greater the pension. So now you have more government people who will be owed pensions. And where does that money come from? Uh-huh…the taxpayers. But of course, with the shrinking tax base, that puts even more of a burden on those of us who have jobs.
Pensions are based upon the “last” salary amount. It doesn’t matter what they were paid before their last salary amount.
Here, here. I am a County employee and even I am amazed at the pay and benefits compared to the private sector. As the County struggles with its budget, I don’t know why pay cuts (permament) are not being more strongly considered.
A storyline like this always needs to have the facts and data accurate or it will generate a response that is not legitimate. For instance say there were 100,000 private jobs and 5,000 government jobs or 5% government jobs. If the number of private jobs drops to 50,000, and the # of government jobs remains the same (hiring freezes hit government sector across the board), then the percentage of government jobs goes up automatically. A percentage alone does NOT tell the whole story…raw numbers in this case would be more informative and more telling, so I suggest you refrain from “journalistic” propaganda and do a bit more research before posting an unfinished piece to be published.
Not sure where the reporters data came from, but I found this site on the internet in 5 seconds, and it seems corroborative.
http://www.city-data.com/county/Orange_County-CA.html
The fact is, Josh, if the tax base shrinks, if the private sector takes a hit, it should be that the government jobs should as well. You’re right. Raw numbers are very telling and much more informative. The private sector is dying, and the government is bloating, but unfortunately not dying.
giggle
“11.4 percent of Orange County jobs in May were government positions.”
the health care industry accounts for 20% of the national GDP, if the big “O” takes it over the percentage of
government employees may reach or exceed 1/3.
is anybody paying attention?or care?
Even the parasites know better that if they push too hard the host is dead and so they are. The taxpayers in the OC are about to reach that breaking point. Next downturn in the stock market might be lethal for our economy. I would give it 6-8 months at best.
Keep giggling while you can.
So, Taz and AG, get together with all the other voters (assume you are citizens) and demand an end to governemnt services; you know, roads, lighting, sewers, traffic control, water, electricity, healthcare for the indigent and children, fire protection, police services, unemployment coverage, social security, medicaid, medicare, building safety, tele-communications, military services, building codes, etc. We can save a ton if we don’t expect anything .
Well…we did. 2/3 of the voters said “no” to new taxes. Basically it means cut the crap, do more with less, get off of my back….. I don’t know we can make the message any clearer.
Good point, AG, but remember that 2/3 of Americans want closed borders and do not want amnesty for ILLEGAL immigrants, yet is the government listening?
Jealousy is a smelly cologne. Gov jobs are great. Great retirement, medical and other benefits. Seems to be a lot of hateful and jealous comments about public safety and gov. employees on all the blogs in the OC Register. Where were all of these folks when gov., city, public safety were hiring? Don’t cry and complain.
You are totally missing the point.
We don’t want to be you; we don’t want you.
OMG Wookie - you have a lot of nerve. You probably couldn’t get a private sector job so you took anything you could grab. If you are a bleeping government employee, remember, the government is for the people, so you work for us.
Um, what the hell is wrong with working for the government? At least they aren’t as irresponsible as those subprime mortgage companies that (used to) operate all over OC. I’ve had plenty of private sector jobs (I avoided mortgage…didn’t want to work with aging frat boys) and I would love to work for the government, if I could find something. But not here in CA right now.
Have you drove through a auto mall lately ??? lots of empty building, where people use to work. Loss of jobs,,,loss of tax dollars,,loss of sales tax. Everythings swrinking, so maybe at some point, with computers, cell phones and the best communication equipment, we can start reducing of the gov. jobs,, as people retire. The balance is very important. What do they call a country, where everyone works for the government ???? Let me give you a hint,,,,it starts with a “C”.
LOL, McCarthy, is that you?
Thank God, the public employees and the retirees are activily earning and spending their money in Orange County, or the economy would be in even worse shape.
Here is the thing. I can’t spend because they have taken it from me.
Keep telling yourself that.
While there is a lot of waste in government jobs, I would like to remind many bashers of the public sector that many young people go into government jobs such as social work and teaching to provide important services to protect and serve those classes of people such as children and the elderly. Social workers in Orange County mostly have Master’s degrees. A good percentage of those “evil government workers” are also in teaching. These certified teachers mostly have Masters’ degrees or better. The choice is often made for a secure job with decent benefits but with a ceiling of probably not becoming rich. After many years of service a reasonable retirement is obtained. Sure there are exceptions and others sure seem to get a free ride. I am just tired of people in the private sector bashing ALL of those well educated, well intentioned people. Sounds like a lot of sour grapes that people made more of the money decision in their own professional career decisions and are now laid off. Go back to school and maybe you can get one of the evil government jobs as well.
Cynical - if you think that “these certified teachers mostly have Masters’ degrees” then you need to check your statistics again. The majority of primary and secondary teachers do not hold graduate degrees. In fact, in some districts the number of teachers operating with an “emergency credential” (they haven’t even finished their undergraduate education but are allowed to teach) is growing.
Republidemotaria - these people with thier “emergency credentials” do not get hired anymore.
Don’t even bother with the facts..they don’t listen to anything based upon anything but manufactured hysteria.
What about the statement “certified teachers mostly have Masters degrees”. My argument is that Cynical seems to believe that having a Masters degree makes you special. I know plenty of people in the private sector with graduate degrees in Physics, Mathematics, Engineering, Business and other fields of study that are currently unemployed. My point is that the education standards for teachers aren’t any higher than degreed professions in the public sector and a job in public education as a teacher shouldn’t be mistaken as guaranteed employment.
What I think is humorous is that I have a friend who used to work in the private sector and was laid off. He received an emergency credential and is presently teaching in the Santa Ana school district. That conflicts with your claim that “these people do not get hired anymore” doesn’t it?
Ha, ha, ha. Please show some proof that social workers working for the county mostly have Master’s degrees! I worked for the county for over 5 years…Most of the people hired/promoted into child protective services and other positions did not have masters. Please take a look at the county website to see what little experience is required to be a “Senior Social Worker”. Then compare that to the high standards nonprofit agencies require for their social workers. County workers get paid much much more. It’s sad and a waste.
The rest of the workers in the OC are illegal immigrants…..now do you people see the clear picture?
Wow, is it time for the daily 10-minutes hate yet?
I am a government worker. Government workers are needed for some jobs (e.g. police, fire fighters, military, pubic school teachers, mental health workers, jailers, prosecuters, judges, to name a few). However, government organizations do not have a profit incentive to keep costs down. This breeds over-administration. The more administrators, the more requirements are placed on the people who provide the services to the public. As more requirements are placed upon the people who provide the services to the public, more people are required to carry out the workload. The more people who are hired to carry out the workload, the more administrators are hired too supervise them. And so on. I suggest that a limit be put on the number of admistrators in government services. It is suggested that only one administrator be provided for each 10 people who give direct services to the public. These administrators will be so busy providing leadership that they will be unable to create new make-work tasks that led to the problem in the first place.
Bottom line too many govt workers,they need to be pared back within a reasonable amount so we are not in this hole again.
Find the Fat….http://www.sacbee.com/statepayresults/index.html?appSession=60694049806101&RecordID=243239&PageID=3&PrevPageID=2&cpipage=1&CPIsortType=&CPIorderBy= …do the math…
The unemployment rate in California is 11.5%. The unemployment rate in the public sector is 2.8%.
Given the fiscal crisis we’re facing it seems that a 10% reduction in government payrolls would be reasonable, fair and appropriate.
I agree with Republidemotaria. It will be my pay that is cut 10%. It is only fair, and it beats a layoff.