2007 Kansas Economic Report

Industries in Focus: Government

Government employment includes federal, state and local government jobs across the state
of Kansas. The main employment categories in this industry include employees within the
executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government; as well as those employees
who administer government programs. In 2006, government employment accounted for
approximately 18.2 percent of total employment in Kansas with approximately 241,700
employed. This is an increase of over 3,500 jobs or roughly a 1.5 percent increase from
2005 to 2006.

Figure 30
Government
Percentage of Total
Kansas and U.S.
2006
20.0%
18.0%
U.S. Kansas
16.0%
Percent

14.0%
Percent

12.0%
10.0%
8.0%
6.0%
4.0%
2.0%
0.0%
Establishments Employment Annual Wages Paid
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Labor Market Information Services, Kansas Department of Labor

The majority of the employment gains came in local

In 2006, local government
government entities which include unified school
accounted for approximately
districts as well as city and county governments.
72.0 percent of Kansas
In 2006, local government accounted for government employment,
approximately 72.0 percent of Kansas while state and federal
government employment, while state and federal government accounted
government accounted for about 17.2 and 10.8 percent for 17.2 and 10.8 percent
respectively. respectively.

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 2007 Kansas Economic Report

Total industry wages in 2006 were approximately $8.1 billion. The average annual wage in
the government industry was $33,430 which was slightly below the overall Kansas average
of $35,699.

The proportion of government employment in Kansas is greater than the proportion of the
government industry in the nation. Figure 30 indicates that the number of establishments,
employment, and annual wages paid in the government industry as a percent of the total is
higher in Kansas than the U.S. From 2001 to 2006 employment in the government industry
has increased by about 2.2 percent in Kansas and over 3.8 percent in the U.S. Growth in
local government employment has been a major contributor to the growth in the govern-
ment industry of Kansas.

Figure 31
Government
Employment Growth
Kansas and U.S.
2.0% 243,000
242,000
1.5%
U.S. 241,000
Percent Change

Employment
1.0% 240,000
239,000
0.5% 238,000
0.0% 237,000
Kansas 236,000
Kansas Employment
-0.5% 235,000
(right scale)
234,000
-1.0%
233,000
-1.5% 232,000
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Year
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Labor Market Information Services, Kansas Department of Labor

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