The state of Michigan leads the country in the percentage of hours worked by part-timers at the state and local government level, according to 2009 U.S. Census Bureau data.
Eighty-three percent of the hours worked were done by full-timers in Michigan, ranking it lowest in the United States and Washington D.C. Arkansas led the nation at 93.36 percent of the hours worked by full-timers.
James Hohman, assistant director of fiscal policy for the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, said he thinks the reason for so many part-timers may come down to the cost of hiring full-time unionized employees.
Michigan’s full-time state and local employees made an average of about $56,000 in 2009. That was 11th highest in the country. About 52 percent of Michigan’s 600,000 full-time and part-time state and local employees are union members.
Meanwhile, the part-timers in state and local government in this state made $33,000 a year — ranking 23rd highest in the country.
“Michigan’s government managers are trying to do the best job they can to control their expenses,” Hohman said.
California’s state and local government full-time workers are the highest paid in the country at $69,000. The U.S. average is $51,828.
Michigan Capitol Confidential is the news source produced by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Michigan Capitol Confidential reports with a free-market news perspective.