Study shows MN Public Workers undercompensated compared to private sector

Despite what conservatives have been saying for years, a new study from the Economic Policy Institute shows Minnesota's public sector workers are undercompensated compared to private sector workers.

The report states:

Comparisons controlling for education, experience, organizational size, gender, race, ethnicity, citizenship, and disability reveal that employees of both state and local governments in Minnesota earn less than comparable private sector employees. On an annual basis, full-time state and local government employees in Minnesota are undercompensated by 11% compared with otherwise similar private sector workers. This compensation disadvantage is smaller but still significant when hours worked are factored in. Full-time public employees work fewer annual hours, particularly employees with bachelor’s, master’s, and professional degrees (because many are teachers or university professors). When comparisons are made controlling for the difference in annual hours worked, full-time state and local government employees are undercompensated by 7.9%, compared with otherwise similar private sector workers. To summarize, our study shows that Minnesota public employees earn 7.9% less in total compensation per hour than comparable full-time employees in Minnesota’s private sector.

It's time to face facts. Public workers have sacrificed along with all middle class Minnesotans over the last decade. Public workers provide valuable services to all of us and shouldn't be demonized by politicans.

Governor Dayton's budget preserves these vital services while putting an end to tax increases on middle class families.