Public sector employment as a share of total employment in United States of America
United States of America: Public sector employment as a share of total employment was 12.9% in 2018. ▼ Falling
Public sector employment as a share of total employment in United States of America, 2010–2018
Source: World Bank (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
United States of America recorded 12.9% for public sector employment as a share of total employment in 2018. That is the lowest value across all 9 years on record.
The figure is down 2.5% on the previous year and down 12.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, public sector employment as a share of total employment in United States of America peaked at 14.7% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 12.9%, in 2018.
United States of America ranks 55th of 79 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Public sector employment as a share of total employment in United States of America, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 14.7% | — |
| 2011 | 14.1% | -3.6% |
| 2012 | 13.6% | -4.0% |
| 2013 | 13.4% | -1.7% |
| 2014 | 13.4% | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 13.3% | -1.0% |
| 2016 | 12.9% | -2.4% |
| 2017 | 13.2% | +2.1% |
| 2018 | 12.9% | -2.5% |
Countries ranked near United States of America
More work & labour data for United States of America
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 113,208 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 61.24 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 178,849 (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 1.05 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 159,991 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 141,322 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 58.55 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 1.27 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 0.3372 % change on previous year (2027)
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is public sector employment as a share of total employment in United States of America?
- Public sector employment as a share of total employment in United States of America was 12.9% in 2018, according to World Bank (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest public sector employment as a share of total employment recorded in United States of America?
- The highest recorded value was 14.7% in 2010.
- What is the lowest public sector employment as a share of total employment recorded in United States of America?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.9% in 2018.
- How does United States of America rank for public sector employment as a share of total employment?
- United States of America ranks 55th out of 79 countries with data for 2018.
- Is public sector employment as a share of total employment rising or falling in United States of America?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United States of America data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Public sector employment as a share of total employment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of all employed people who are paid employees of the public sector, including government, the armed forces, public services, and state-owned enterprises.