Have you noticed more government workers over recent years?
You’re not alone. Uncle Sam – under Biden and Harris – and his state and local cousins were on a hiring spree.
Until Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and DOGE came along.
In 2023, the government added a massive 709,000 jobs. That’s more than double what they added in 2022.
To put it another way, for every four new jobs created, one was a government position.
Local governments led the charge with 351,000 new hires, state governments added 273,000, and the federal government brought on 85,000 more workers.
If it felt like bureaucracy was growing at record speed, well, that’s because it was.
Why So Many Government Jobs?
Supporters say this hiring wave was just the government playing catch-up after the pandemic left many departments understaffed. They argue that more workers mean better public services.
Need to renew your driver’s license? Maybe now you won’t wait in line as long. Want smaller class sizes for your kids? More teachers could help.
But critics see something else.
They warn that this explosion in government jobs was setting us up for higher taxes, more bureaucracy, and slower economic growth.
After all, every government paycheck ultimately comes from the pockets of taxpayers.
Who Pays the Bill?
The private sector, not the government, is supposed to be the engine of our economy.
Businesses create products, drive innovation, and generate wealth. But when the government grows too large, it competes with businesses for workers and resources.
This isn’t just theory; it’s happening right now.
While private businesses struggle to find employees, the government is using taxpayer dollars to lure workers away with cushy benefits and job security that private employers can’t match.
Even more concerning, over the past decade, the federal workforce has expanded faster than state and local governments.
In recent months, anywhere from 21% to 58% of all new jobs in the country have been government positions. That’s not just playing catch-up. That’s a major shift in how jobs are being created in America.
A Dangerous Trend
Some economists are sounding the alarm, pointing out that this level of government hiring hasn’t been seen in decades. In 2023, public sector job growth jumped to 2.7% – the highest rate since 1990.
A government this large isn’t just expensive; it’s inefficient. It slows down economic innovation and makes it harder for businesses to compete.
When was the last time you heard of a government agency operating with the speed and efficiency of a private business?
And then there’s the elephant in the room: the national debt.
With Washington already borrowing trillions, adding more government salaries only makes the problem worse.
It’s like putting more weight on a sinking ship and hoping it doesn’t go under.
What’s Next?
Some argue that bigger government means better services. But history tells us otherwise.
The more government grows, the harder it is to control. Taxpayers foot the bill while politicians keep spending like there’s no tomorrow.
So what happens next? Will this trend continue, or will the private sector take back the lead in job creation?
That depends on voters.
If you’re tired of government bloat and higher taxes, it might be time to hop on the DOGE train – and both the federal and state and local levels.
Because if we don’t put the brakes on this hiring spree now, we could be stuck paying for it for generations to come.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
