....The chart looks at public sector payrolls from 1973 to the present. As you can see, in the 35 years between 1973 and 2008, the public sector lost jobs only three times: twice during the recession of 1981-82, and then a small loss in 2003. Not only that, but the public sector routinely adds 200,000 or more to the payrolls every single year. In boom years that number can reach up to 500,000, as it did in 2001 (in the midst of a slight recession, mind you).
Now look at the last three years of the chart. From 2009-2011 the public sector has fallen every year. That's completely unprecedented in generations. Even in 2011, when the private sector had its best year from a jobs standpoint since 2005, the public sector had a horrific time of it, losing more jobs than any year since 1981....Read More
