Schools, Local Governments Drive Upswing in Public Sector Hiring

7,000 jobs, (94% of that total hiring was by private employers), the government sector presented a more complicated picture. Total government employment increased by 10,000 jobs in April, a smaller gain compared to previous months. Notably, the increase was driven almost entirely by local government hiring, particularly in education.

Local governments added 13,000 jobs in April, continuing a slow but steady rebound as municipalities respond to growing service demands and rising school enrollments. Local education employment has seen incremental growth as districts aim to rebuild staff levels post-pandemic and navigate evolving student needs.

At the state level, employment held essentially flat. State governments, many still recovering from budget constraints and adapting to shifts in federal funding, have taken a cautious approach to hiring. This stagnation may also reflect longer hiring cycles and the lagging impact of policy decisions on workforce planning.

The most notable movement came from the federal government, which shed 9,000 jobs in April, and is down by 26,000 since January. This drop offsets some of the gains seen in earlier months and underscores ongoing attrition and restructuring efforts. While retirements and hiring freezes in certain agencies have contributed to the decline, much of the shift appears driven by the end of temporary positions related to decennial census follow-up, pandemic-era programs, and administrative streamlining.

With the federal share of total US employment continuing to shrink, the numbers highlight broader questions about the role and reach of government in a post-pandemic economy. At the same time, many agencies face challenges in attracting younger talent and modernizing their workforces.

Looking ahead, budget negotiations, federal grant cycles, and policy shifts at the state and local levels will shape the trajectory of public-sector employment. While government jobs remain a vital pillar of the US labor market, the April report reminds us public employment is not immune to economic and political headwinds.

Article sourced from New Jersey Business Magazine.