An AP analysis of economic data from around the country shows that economic pain in a county decreases as the percentage of government workers in its work force rises. Facts and figures about some of the counties around the country enjoying relative prosp
An AP analysis of economic data from around the country shows that economic pain in a county decreases as the percentage of government workers in its work force rises. Facts and figures about some of the counties around the country enjoying relative prosperity because of heavy concentrations of government jobs: Leon County, Fla. — Home to the state capital, Tallahassee. Population 264,000. Percentage of government workers 20. 6.2 percent March unemployment and an AP Stress Index Score of 7.26 (4th lowest in Florida). Champaign County, Illinois — Location of the University of Illinois. Population 193,600. Percentage of government workers 18.5. 7.1 percent unemployment in March and an AP Stress Index Score of 7.87 (ninth lowest in Illinois). Johnson County, Iowa — Location of the University of Iowa. Population 128,000. Percentage of government workers 25.6. 3.6 percent March unemployment and an AP Stress Index Score of 3.89 (lowest in Iowa). Riley County, Kansas — Home to U.S. Army’s Fort Riley and Kansas State University. Population: 71,000. Percentage of government workers 17.4. 3.4 percent March unemployment and an AP Stress Index Score of 3.71 (12th lowest in Kansas). Washtenaw County, Mich. — Home to the University of Michigan. Population 347,000. Percentage of government workers 19.1. 7.4 percent March unemployment and an AP Stress Index Score of 9.25 (second lowest in Michigan). Los Alamos County, N.M. — Los Alamos National Laboratory location. Population 18,000. Percentage of government workers 30.7. 2.9 percent March unemployment and an AP Stress Index Score of 3.28 (second lowest in New Mexico). Albany County, N.Y. — Has both the state capital in Albany and a State University of New York campus. Population 298,000. Percentage of government workers 22.6. 7 percent March unemployment and an AP Stress Index Score of 8.4 (seventh lowest in New York). Orange County, N.C. — University of North Carolina located here. Population 126,000. Percentage of government workers 26.2. 6.5 percent March unemployment and an AP Stress Index Score of 7.13 (lowest in North Carolina). Dane County, Wisc. — Both University of Wisconsin and the state capital, Madison, are here. Population 482,000. Percentage of government workers 16.3. 5.5 percent unemployment in March and an AP Stress Index Score of 6.34 (lowest in Wisconsin). Albany County, Wyo. — Location of the University of Wyoming. Population: 32,700. Percentage of government workers 21.9. 2.9 percent March unemployment and an AP Stress Index Score of 3.05 (second lowest in Wyoming). ______ Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
About Post Author
