• Total government employment, both at the state and local level, has increased 17.2%, representing 28,800 new government positions over the past ten years, while population only grew by 8.9%.

• According to Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data, over the past five years (2004-2009) the Arkansas state government has grown from 66,800 to 76,600 employees, or 14.6%. During that same period the state population grew by only 5.1%.

• Also during the 2004-2009 timeframe, Arkansas local government employment increased from 114,100 to 119,500 employees, or 4.6%.

• Total government employment, both at the state and local level, has increased 8.4% over the past five years, while population only grew by 5.1%

• The last ten years have been even more dramatic. From 1999 through 2009, Arkansas state government grew by 22.5% (62,500 to 76,600), while local government employment grew by 14.0% (104,800 to 119,500). During this same time period, the population of Arkansas grew by only 8.9%.

• The Arkansas private sector economy is struggling, losing 31,600 jobs over the past year. That is a 3.3% decline.

• The taxpayer-paid government workforce is not proportionally sharing in the pain that private workers are facing. During the last year, taxpayer supported-jobs in Arkansas increased by 1,800 jobs or about a 0.9% increase.

• Arkansas now has 31,600 fewer private sectors workers supporting the salary of even more government workers. That translates into a growing burden for those Arkansas private sector workers who are still employed.

• Current government employment in Arkansas at 196,000 is 14,700 more than just five years ago and in a state with little population growth.

• Since February 2000, Arkansas state government has added 14,300 jobs, which adds an additional cost to taxpayers of approximately $685 million per year.

• Since 2000, Arkansas has had the 5th fastest growing government sector out of all 50 states.