3 ms·

2021: 1% 2022: 2.7% 2023: 4.6% 2024: 5.2% Federal employees pay seems to lag inflation by 1-2yrs (ex benefits, retirement). I think some people worry about gov

2021: 1% 2022: 2.7% 2023: 4.6% 2024: 5.2% Federal employees pay seems to lag inflation by 1-2yrs (ex benefits, retirement). I think some people worry about government unfairly outcompeting private sector businesses for employees, but these pay increases don't seem to be the mechanism by which that happens.

woodruffw 4y ago
Is that a common worry? At least in my niche, the highest GS salary band doesn't come close to normal annual compensations (and comes with many additional requirements, such as a PhD or other indication of exceptional worth). The people I know who find government (both state and federal) employment attractive do so because it offers a better work-life balance and, for state employees, the possibility of a pension. That or they're attracted to a specific agency or department's mission, which is not something that private groups can always compete with at all (e.g. when they reflect a regulatory role).
- dataflow 4y ago
  > The people I know who find government (both state and federal) employment attractive do so because it offers a better work-life balance and, for state employees, the possibility of a pension. Student loan forgiveness is another one.
  - woodruffw 4y ago
    Thanks, I wasn't aware of that[1]. Still, I wonder if that's a major draw: federal employment numbers have been roughly stagnant for decades, and have declined on a per capita basis. [1]: https://studentaid.gov/pslf/ https://studentaid.gov/pslf/
    - dataflow 4y ago
      The government only needs so many employees, and automation has gradually replaced some jobs (I imagine in USPS, IRS, etc.), so I'm not sure I can draw any conclusions from that. I'd be curious on the stats too, yeah.
      - neural_thing 4y ago
        Needs? The bureaucracy is expanding to meet the needs of the expanding bureaucracy.
        dataflow 4y ago
        Even geometric growth still has a limit...

woodruffw 4y ago

Is that a common worry? At least in my niche, the highest GS salary band doesn't come close to normal annual compensations (and comes with many additional requirements, such as a PhD or other indication of exceptional worth). The people I know who find government (both state and federal) employment attractive do so because it offers a better work-life balance and, for state employees, the possibility of a pension. That or they're attracted to a specific agency or department's mission, which is not something that private groups can always compete with at all (e.g. when they reflect a regulatory role).

dataflow 4y ago
> The people I know who find government (both state and federal) employment attractive do so because it offers a better work-life balance and, for state employees, the possibility of a pension. Student loan forgiveness is another one.
- woodruffw 4y ago
  Thanks, I wasn't aware of that[1]. Still, I wonder if that's a major draw: federal employment numbers have been roughly stagnant for decades, and have declined on a per capita basis. [1]: https://studentaid.gov/pslf/ https://studentaid.gov/pslf/
  - dataflow 4y ago
    The government only needs so many employees, and automation has gradually replaced some jobs (I imagine in USPS, IRS, etc.), so I'm not sure I can draw any conclusions from that. I'd be curious on the stats too, yeah.
    - neural_thing 4y ago
      Needs? The bureaucracy is expanding to meet the needs of the expanding bureaucracy.
      - dataflow 4y ago
        Even geometric growth still has a limit...