21,995,000 to 12,329,000: Government Employees Outnumber Manufacturing Employees 1.8 to 1

a reply to: jonnywhite

Report: Government spends billions more hiring contractors over public workers

As Washington's use of private contractors grows, the government is paying those contractors billions more than it would pay their government workers to do the same job, according to a new study released Tuesday..


In an attempt to verify frequently made claims that the government can save money by outsourcing its work, the nonprofit Project On Government Oversight (POGO) compared the total annual compensation for federal (and private sector) employees with federal contractor billing rates.


The group found that in 33 of the 35 occupational categories it reviewed, federal government employees were less expensive than contractors. On average, the federal government pays contractors 1.83 times more than it pays federal employees and two times more than what comparable workers in the private sector are paid.


For instance, the government on average pays contractors $299,374 for accounting services, while it pays federal employees $124,851 for accounting services. By comparison, workers in the private sector (not under contract by the government) make on average $83,132. The government on average pays contractors $198,411 for information technology management, while they pay federal workers $124,663.


That discrepancy is significant, given the federal government spends over $320 billion on service contracts each year, and about one-quarter of all discretionary spending goes to service contractors. According to POGO's report, the contractor workforce rose from an estimated 4.4 million in 1999 to 7.6 million in 2005 -- while the size of the federal employee workforce has remained relatively steady at about 2 million

www.cbsnews.com...

I can not complain, why? because thanks to this practice my husband has been employed since he retired from the military, is better than a Civil worker job and still working for the military.

a reply to: marg6043

I won't argue that at all.

I remember Ross Perot and his "sucking sound" comment at a debate.

originally posted by: Terminal1
a reply to: marg6043

I won't argue that at all.

I remember Ross Perot and his "sucking sound" comment at a debate.

I voted for him. I was a crazy rebellious teen though. Watching old videos, Ross Perot reminds me of Ron Paul's independent-mindedness.

I'd like to know what amount of private contract work is utilized out by the government, versus contract work outside the government. How big of a mover are they? 7% of the workforce while using X% of total private contract work. There's a guy who do editorials in my local newspaper and he's always asking for more support for government subsidizing new jobs.

EDIT: I think that guy's name is Paul Krugman.

a reply to: jonnywhite

He definitely dropped off the radar quickly.

I guess his comments did not resonate with the right people.

I liked him. He made things interesting.

I remember when back in the days when my husband was active marine that most of the work in the military bases was done by military personnel, then after 9/11 everything is done by contractors, for one civil service employee is about 4 or 5 contractors and only one military representative, as civil workers took over the military jobs, while back then they coexisted together.

Even the military police is now contracted, when before they were that, military personnel.

originally posted by: Metallicus
Wow.

How can a country survive with so much bureaucracy and so little production?

I come from a country (France) whose path we are steadily following. One need only look at the economic situation France is in now to understand where we will be in the near future. It is such a shame.

a reply to: marg6043

For quite some time is a well known secret that the US government is the biggest employer in the nation, if the government goes belly up guess what, the nation will come to a stand still.

There number 1 in other areas too.

The largest healthcare provider: Medicare,Medicaid.

The largest 'retirement' fund :Social Security.

The largest education provider: See the $1.2 trillion dollars in student debt.

The largest home provider : See Fanny Mae, and Freddy Mac.

And people wonder why we have 'debt'.

21,995,000 government employees, and the above ALL paid by our TAX DOLLARS.

And people scoff when we call the current administration BIG GOVERNMENT.

Dunno whether to laugh or cry.

originally posted by: Gothmog

originally posted by: seeker1963
a reply to: jude11

Reminds me of that old saying, "Too many chiefs and not enough Indians".

Waiting to be called a racist in 3,,,,2......1

Wait , what ? I am a great bit American Indian(of course we prefer Native American) , as I remember the saying should go "Too many chiefs and not enough braves". Makes for a bad campaign..Peace to you

Imma tad bit 'indian' too as one of my ancestors was a scout for Washington.

I don't find the term 'offensive' or 'racist' at all.

But that's just me.

blogs.wsj.com...

and yet when the average joe wants government to respond to a problem, they bitch that there is no one to help them and that it is slow.....

a reply to: neo96

I believe that taking into consideration that the private sector and manufacturing has been steadily disappearing thanks to trade agreement deals, the government have not other choice but to take upon themselves to supply the citizens with jobs.

This creates a vicious cycle, taxes are needed to pay for everything, I wonder when the taxable income will no be enough to fund everything else.

I guess that is when printing money becomes priority.

a reply to: marg6043

Feel free to say that.

I would say the private sector is decreasing mainly because government has increased it's size, and continues to do so.

Which takes jobs, and money out of the private sector.

Everything I listed ?

Should rightfully be in the private sector.

Basically meaning: Government jobs TAKE private jobs.

This is further proof of an economic collapse going and has been going on for a while.

originally posted by: marg6043
a reply to: jonnywhite

Report: Government spends billions more hiring contractors over public workers

As Washington's use of private contractors grows, the government is paying those contractors billions more than it would pay their government workers to do the same job, according to a new study released Tuesday..


In an attempt to verify frequently made claims that the government can save money by outsourcing its work, the nonprofit Project On Government Oversight (POGO) compared the total annual compensation for federal (and private sector) employees with federal contractor billing rates.


The group found that in 33 of the 35 occupational categories it reviewed, federal government employees were less expensive than contractors. On average, the federal government pays contractors 1.83 times more than it pays federal employees and two times more than what comparable workers in the private sector are paid.


For instance, the government on average pays contractors $299,374 for accounting services, while it pays federal employees $124,851 for accounting services. By comparison, workers in the private sector (not under contract by the government) make on average $83,132. The government on average pays contractors $198,411 for information technology management, while they pay federal workers $124,663.


That discrepancy is significant, given the federal government spends over $320 billion on service contracts each year, and about one-quarter of all discretionary spending goes to service contractors. According to POGO's report, the contractor workforce rose from an estimated 4.4 million in 1999 to 7.6 million in 2005 -- while the size of the federal employee workforce has remained relatively steady at about 2 million

www.cbsnews.com...

I can not complain, why? because thanks to this practice my husband has been employed since he retired from the military, is better than a Civil worker job and still working for the military.

Enlightening. This is government creating high paying private jobs and taking away a public job.

originally posted by: neo96

originally posted by: Gothmog

originally posted by: seeker1963
a reply to: jude11

Reminds me of that old saying, "Too many chiefs and not enough Indians".

Waiting to be called a racist in 3,,,,2......1

Wait , what ? I am a great bit American Indian(of course we prefer Native American) , as I remember the saying should go "Too many chiefs and not enough braves". Makes for a bad campaign..Peace to you

Imma tad bit 'indian' too as one of my ancestors was a scout for Washington.

I don't find the term 'offensive' or 'racist' at all.

But that's just me.

Here in the South we have a saying. You can call me anything you like , just dont call me late for dinner....peace

originally posted by: seeker1963
a reply to: jude11

Reminds me of that old saying, "Too many chiefs and not enough Indians".

Waiting to be called a racist in 3,,,,2......1

That was the Native backward system. What it should be saying, Too many Warlords/Leaders not enough people working together as a community. If they did try everyone would be called Communists or some fool thinks he deserves the right to be the chief like a king.

a reply to: jude11

Yes the most recent admin has grown government in an insatiable way. It is the manifestation of the totalitarian nanny state. They have made it more lucrative to work for government. It is definitely an out of balance situation as the more you grow govt the more people have to give up their wages to pay for it.

a reply to: ThirdEyeofHorus

You mean the Obama Admin has grown the government in an insatiable way? Do you have facts? Because not according to Forbes:
"It might have something to do with the first year of the Obama presidency where the federal budget increased a whopping 17.9% —going from $2.98 trillion to $3.52 trillion. I’ll bet you think that this is the result of the Obama sponsored stimulus plan that is so frequently vilified by the conservatives…but you would be wrong.

The first year of any incoming president term is saddled—for better or for worse—with the budget set by the president whom immediately precedes the new occupant of the White House. Indeed, not only was the 2009 budget the property of George W. Bush—and passed by the 2008 Congress—it was in effect four months before Barack Obama took the oath of office."
Source:www.forbes.com...

originally posted by: marg6043
a reply to: jude11

For quite some time is a well known secret that the US government is the biggest employer in the nation, if the government goes belly up guess what, the nation will come to a stand still.

Now let just think about how many of retirement accounts and government benefits pay offs are within this group.

My husband no only receive retirement from the government as for his years in the military service, but also he works full time for the government too.

what that tells you, is a say so remember, never bite the hands that feed you.

So far the government employment feeds a lot of people.

Where does government get its money from?

a reply to: neo96

Now, Neo, what do those who partake in your aforementioned government benefit franchise become?

I'll direct you to 5 USC 552a(a)(12) and (13). Please note the title of Tilte 5 as well... 'Government Organization and Employees'

The federal personnel/employee number is actually much much higher when we expand the definition of 'employee' to match US Code.

originally posted by: introvert

originally posted by: xuenchen
"21,995,000 to 12,329,000: Government Employees Outnumber Manufacturing Employees 1.8 to 1"

A clear and alarming indication of massive big government failure.

Not necessarily. The population of the US in 1941 was 133 million and the number of people employed by governments was 7 million. That's only about 5%. Source

Today's population is almost 319 million with almost 22 million government employees. That's around 7%.

Not much of a change.

Considering public employees make 30-40% than their private counterparts, that's huge. It takes more than 1 private worker to fund the salary of a public worker. Additionally, bear in mind we have the lowest work force participation since the late 70's *and* a larger welfare state than we did in the 40's.