Massachusetts led the nation in government employee job cuts

[UpInArms]

http://www.telegram.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040828/APN/408280563

BOSTON- Massachusetts reduced its public payroll more than any other state during the economic downturn between 2001 and 2003, shedding teachers, social workers and thousands of other jobs, according to federal statistics.

The state cut its payroll by about 5 percent through layoffs and early retirement programs, while cities and towns cut about 2 percent of their workers in response to reduced financial aid from the statehouse, according to U.S. Labor Department statistics.

Overall, 3.1 percent of public jobs were cut in Massachusetts, far ahead of Oregon, where 1.2 percent of public jobs were cut, and Oklahoma, where 1.1 percent were cut, The Boston Globe reported.

Many of those cuts were to public safety personnel. A Senate Committee on Post Audit and Oversight released in May found that 945 police officers and 798 firefighters had been laid off since Sept. 11, 2001.

The number of public jobs was reduced from 376,200 to 364,500, and although department figures for 2004 show cities and towns are hiring again, the number of state workers continues to drop.

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