Local Government Employee Numbers Decline in New York
NEW YORK – A recent state audit revealed that the number of full-time local government employees outside of New York City has decreased by nearly 8% between 2007 and 2022. This is a significant drop compared to the national average of a 2% increase during the same time period.
The report, released by state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli’s Office, attributes the decline to the impact of the Great Recession of 2007-09 and the COVID-19 pandemic. These events have taken a toll on staffing levels, affecting essential services such as education, public safety, and healthcare.
Challenges and Responses
School districts remain the largest local government employer, with 271,611 full-time workers. County government was the second-largest with 92,413 employees. City, villages, and town employees followed. The state Association of Counties has acknowledged the workforce challenges and emphasized the need for qualified and dedicated public employees to serve residents effectively and efficiently.
The city of Schenectady is currently facing challenges in finalizing its city budget, with Mayor Gary McCarthy expressing optimism about recruiting new employees to deliver high-quality services.
Salary Changes
The state audit also reported changes in the average annual salary for full-time local government employees. The average annual salary for full-time government employees was about $76,700 last year, up from about $53,900 in 2007. After adjusting for inflation, the average salary increased by 2.1% during the 15-year period.
Correctional employees statewide saw the largest increase in salary, from $48,228 in 2007 to $81,911 in 2022. When taking inflation into account, correctional employees saw an average 21.8% increase in salary.
Local Government Employee Statistics
Below is a breakdown of local government employee statistics per county:
| Counties | # of Employees | % of all full-time employees | Average annual salary |
| Albany | 12,029 | 2.66% | $71,759 |
| Fulton | 2,511 | 0.56% | $55,949 |
| Montgomery | 1,810 | 0.40% | $62,956 |
| Saratoga | 7,464 | 1.65% | $66,602 |
| Schenectady | 5,371 | 1.19% | $74,512 |
| Schoharie | 1,360 | 0.30% | $63,139 |
Disagree – Local government employment may have declined, but Schenectady budget discussions could be an opportunity for innovative solutions and efficient allocation of resources.
Agree – It’s important to find new ways to allocate resources effectively in Schenectady during these budget discussions.
Agree – It’s concerning to see the decline in local government employment, but I hope the budget discussions in Schenectady can bring forth effective solutions to address this issue.