Government payroll employment in United States

Government payroll employment in the United States was 23,327,000 jobs in September 2026, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That is down 0.9% from September 2025.

September 2026, jobs23,327,000 Provisional

Change on September 2025-0.9%

Series high23,586,000June 2025

Series low15,028,000October 1976

Next release: Friday, 6 November 2026, 08:30 ET, announced by BLS. Release calendar

Government payroll employment in United States, October 1976 to September 2026

jobs. Source: BLS, Current Employment Statistics: all employees, government, seasonally adjusted (CES9000000001). Retrieved 2026-10-12, published 2026-10-02.

All 600 values

Period	jobs
2026-09	23,327,000 Provisional
2026-08	23,344,000 Provisional
2026-07	23,300,000
2026-06	23,338,000
2026-05	23,333,000
2026-04	23,331,000
2026-03	23,333,000
2026-02	23,321,000
2026-01	23,329,000
2025-12	23,349,000
2025-11	23,359,000
2025-10	23,390,000
2025-09	23,543,000
2025-08	23,535,000
2025-07	23,585,000
2025-06	23,586,000
2025-05	23,561,000
2025-04	23,568,000
2025-03	23,559,000
2025-02	23,559,000
2025-01	23,557,000
2024-12	23,529,000
2024-11	23,504,000
2024-10	23,486,000
2024-09	23,449,000
2024-08	23,436,000
2024-07	23,400,000
2024-06	23,339,000
2024-05	23,330,000
2024-04	23,297,000
2024-03	23,296,000
2024-02	23,211,000
2024-01	23,140,000
2023-12	23,091,000
2023-11	23,036,000
2023-10	22,993,000
2023-09	22,948,000
2023-08	22,907,000
2023-07	22,837,000
2023-06	22,792,000
2023-05	22,722,000
2023-04	22,642,000
2023-03	22,580,000
2023-02	22,538,000
2023-01	22,484,000
2022-12	22,365,000
2022-11	22,379,000
2022-10	22,293,000
2022-09	22,297,000
2022-08	22,306,000
2022-07	22,306,000
2022-06	22,142,000
2022-05	22,125,000
2022-04	22,069,000
2022-03	22,033,000
2022-02	22,032,000
2022-01	22,049,000
2021-12	22,062,000
2021-11	22,046,000
2021-10	22,027,000
2021-09	22,102,000
2021-08	22,136,000
2021-07	22,039,000
2021-06	22,031,000
2021-05	21,929,000
2021-04	21,893,000
2021-03	21,844,000
2021-02	21,754,000
2021-01	21,741,000
2020-12	21,678,000
2020-11	21,683,000
2020-10	21,805,000
2020-09	21,929,000
2020-08	22,000,000
2020-07	21,514,000
2020-06	21,412,000
2020-05	21,393,000
2020-04	21,909,000
2020-03	22,827,000
2020-02	22,857,000
2020-01	22,781,000
2019-12	22,726,000
2019-11	22,709,000
2019-10	22,670,000
2019-09	22,653,000
2019-08	22,625,000
2019-07	22,572,000
2019-06	22,604,000
2019-05	22,562,000
2019-04	22,619,000
2019-03	22,569,000
2019-02	22,525,000
2019-01	22,508,000
2018-12	22,511,000
2018-11	22,473,000
2018-10	22,479,000
2018-09	22,474,000
2018-08	22,468,000
2018-07	22,436,000
2018-06	22,482,000
2018-05	22,449,000
2018-04	22,444,000
2018-03	22,427,000
2018-02	22,419,000
2018-01	22,374,000
2017-12	22,384,000
2017-11	22,379,000
2017-10	22,361,000
2017-09	22,333,000
2017-08	22,310,000
2017-07	22,374,000
2017-06	22,360,000
2017-05	22,347,000
2017-04	22,335,000
2017-03	22,329,000
2017-02	22,326,000
2017-01	22,316,000
2016-12	22,304,000
2016-11	22,277,000
2016-10	22,295,000
2016-09	22,323,000
2016-08	22,284,000
2016-07	22,289,000
2016-06	22,180,000
2016-05	22,199,000
2016-04	22,184,000
2016-03	22,178,000
2016-02	22,138,000
2016-01	22,114,000
2015-12	22,097,000
2015-11	22,081,000
2015-10	22,056,000
2015-09	22,040,000
2015-08	22,060,000
2015-07	22,050,000
2015-06	22,015,000
2015-05	22,012,000
2015-04	22,005,000
2015-03	21,970,000
2015-02	21,978,000
2015-01	21,960,000
2014-12	21,947,000
2014-11	21,932,000
2014-10	21,917,000
2014-09	21,897,000
2014-08	21,855,000
2014-07	21,901,000
2014-06	21,895,000
2014-05	21,832,000
2014-04	21,853,000
2014-03	21,833,000
2014-02	21,825,000
2014-01	21,814,000
2013-12	21,820,000
2013-11	21,843,000
2013-10	21,830,000
2013-09	21,835,000
2013-08	21,831,000
2013-07	21,815,000
2013-06	21,840,000
2013-05	21,864,000
2013-04	21,869,000
2013-03	21,870,000
2013-02	21,881,000
2013-01	21,869,000
2012-12	21,887,000
2012-11	21,883,000
2012-10	21,903,000
2012-09	21,925,000
2012-08	21,916,000
2012-07	21,913,000
2012-06	21,930,000
2012-05	21,911,000
2012-04	21,931,000
2012-03	21,943,000
2012-02	21,947,000
2012-01	21,946,000
2011-12	21,954,000
2011-11	21,971,000
2011-10	21,998,000
2011-09	21,983,000
2011-08	22,017,000
2011-07	22,049,000
2011-06	22,164,000
2011-05	22,129,000
2011-04	22,184,000
2011-03	22,192,000
2011-02	22,215,000
2011-01	22,258,000
2010-12	22,266,000
2010-11	22,287,000
2010-10	22,297,000
2010-09	22,247,000
2010-08	22,420,000
2010-07	22,569,000
2010-06	22,740,000
2010-05	22,996,000
2010-04	22,569,000
2010-03	22,518,000
2010-02	22,476,000
2010-01	22,491,000
2009-12	22,482,000
2009-11	22,533,000
2009-10	22,524,000
2009-09	22,451,000
2009-08	22,537,000
2009-07	22,521,000
2009-06	22,576,000
2009-05	22,617,000
2009-04	22,677,000
2009-03	22,560,000
2009-02	22,576,000
2009-01	22,579,000
2008-12	22,556,000
2008-11	22,560,000
2008-10	22,549,000
2008-09	22,537,000
2008-08	22,567,000
2008-07	22,568,000
2008-06	22,517,000
2008-05	22,483,000
2008-04	22,450,000
2008-03	22,443,000
2008-02	22,417,000
2008-01	22,388,000
2007-12	22,376,000
2007-11	22,334,000
2007-10	22,297,000
2007-09	22,279,000
2007-08	22,226,000
2007-07	22,171,000
2007-06	22,207,000
2007-05	22,193,000
2007-04	22,175,000
2007-03	22,149,000
2007-02	22,131,000
2007-01	22,095,000
2006-12	22,088,000
2006-11	22,083,000
2006-10	22,068,000
2006-09	22,082,000
2006-08	22,011,000
2006-07	21,973,000
2006-06	21,922,000
2006-05	21,926,000
2006-04	21,919,000
2006-03	21,903,000
2006-02	21,878,000
2006-01	21,847,000
2005-12	21,879,000
2005-11	21,859,000
2005-10	21,829,000
2005-09	21,845,000
2005-08	21,863,000
2005-07	21,857,000
2005-06	21,763,000
2005-05	21,781,000
2005-04	21,754,000
2005-03	21,740,000
2005-02	21,744,000
2005-01	21,735,000
2004-12	21,693,000
2004-11	21,692,000
2004-10	21,656,000
2004-09	21,635,000
2004-08	21,626,000
2004-07	21,606,000
2004-06	21,601,000
2004-05	21,614,000
2004-04	21,614,000
2004-03	21,588,000
2004-02	21,550,000
2004-01	21,538,000
2003-12	21,546,000
2003-11	21,535,000
2003-10	21,558,000
2003-09	21,504,000
2003-08	21,556,000
2003-07	21,633,000
2003-06	21,606,000
2003-05	21,567,000
2003-04	21,595,000
2003-03	21,610,000
2003-02	21,624,000
2003-01	21,626,000
2002-12	21,588,000
2002-11	21,581,000
2002-10	21,559,000
2002-09	21,546,000
2002-08	21,589,000
2002-07	21,544,000
2002-06	21,549,000
2002-05	21,514,000
2002-04	21,443,000
2002-03	21,431,000
2002-02	21,390,000
2002-01	21,377,000
2001-12	21,355,000
2001-11	21,326,000
2001-10	21,275,000
2001-09	21,242,000
2001-08	21,218,000
2001-07	21,185,000
2001-06	21,137,000
2001-05	21,029,000
2001-04	20,992,000
2001-03	20,945,000
2001-02	20,906,000
2001-01	20,835,000
2000-12	20,804,000
2000-11	20,760,000
2000-10	20,743,000
2000-09	20,735,000
2000-08	20,837,000
2000-07	20,867,000
2000-06	20,887,000
2000-05	21,147,000
2000-04	20,802,000
2000-03	20,733,000
2000-02	20,599,000
2000-01	20,571,000
1999-12	20,540,000
1999-11	20,496,000
1999-10	20,457,000
1999-09	20,404,000
1999-08	20,375,000
1999-07	20,339,000
1999-06	20,272,000
1999-05	20,229,000
1999-04	20,237,000
1999-03	20,168,000
1999-02	20,144,000
1999-01	20,084,000
1998-12	20,079,000
1998-11	20,044,000
1998-10	20,001,000
1998-09	19,985,000
1998-08	19,959,000
1998-07	19,930,000
1998-06	19,879,000
1998-05	19,875,000
1998-04	19,816,000
1998-03	19,792,000
1998-02	19,786,000
1998-01	19,770,000
1997-12	19,766,000
1997-11	19,761,000
1997-10	19,738,000
1997-09	19,679,000
1997-08	19,617,000
1997-07	19,686,000
1997-06	19,660,000
1997-05	19,601,000
1997-04	19,603,000
1997-03	19,608,000
1997-02	19,598,000
1997-01	19,593,000
1996-12	19,571,000
1996-11	19,565,000
1996-10	19,554,000
1996-09	19,567,000
1996-08	19,504,000
1996-07	19,547,000
1996-06	19,528,000
1996-05	19,529,000
1996-04	19,515,000
1996-03	19,532,000
1996-02	19,485,000
1996-01	19,450,000
1995-12	19,466,000
1995-11	19,463,000
1995-10	19,464,000
1995-09	19,430,000
1995-08	19,429,000
1995-07	19,437,000
1995-06	19,445,000
1995-05	19,418,000
1995-04	19,434,000
1995-03	19,427,000
1995-02	19,407,000
1995-01	19,397,000
1994-12	19,388,000
1994-11	19,367,000
1994-10	19,344,000
1994-09	19,337,000
1994-08	19,306,000
1994-07	19,301,000
1994-06	19,274,000
1994-05	19,264,000
1994-04	19,223,000
1994-03	19,190,000
1994-02	19,150,000
1994-01	19,147,000
1993-12	19,109,000
1993-11	19,068,000
1993-10	19,042,000
1993-09	19,041,000
1993-08	19,028,000
1993-07	19,060,000
1993-06	18,969,000
1993-05	18,951,000
1993-04	18,938,000
1993-03	18,907,000
1993-02	18,902,000
1993-01	18,901,000
1992-12	18,878,000
1992-11	18,841,000
1992-10	18,828,000
1992-09	18,829,000
1992-08	18,883,000
1992-07	18,817,000
1992-06	18,762,000
1992-05	18,753,000
1992-04	18,739,000
1992-03	18,715,000
1992-02	18,689,000
1992-01	18,688,000
1991-12	18,641,000
1991-11	18,627,000
1991-10	18,593,000
1991-09	18,543,000
1991-08	18,567,000
1991-07	18,598,000
1991-06	18,561,000
1991-05	18,498,000
1991-04	18,485,000
1991-03	18,488,000
1991-02	18,482,000
1991-01	18,474,000
1990-12	18,468,000
1990-11	18,450,000
1990-10	18,443,000
1990-09	18,437,000
1990-08	18,457,000
1990-07	18,560,000
1990-06	18,556,000
1990-05	18,599,000
1990-04	18,377,000
1990-03	18,294,000
1990-02	18,177,000
1990-01	18,151,000
1989-12	18,075,000
1989-11	18,057,000
1989-10	18,033,000
1989-09	18,027,000
1989-08	17,989,000
1989-07	17,905,000
1989-06	17,912,000
1989-05	17,876,000
1989-04	17,840,000
1989-03	17,822,000
1989-02	17,812,000
1989-01	17,774,000
1988-12	17,736,000
1988-11	17,746,000
1988-10	17,670,000
1988-09	17,634,000
1988-08	17,544,000
1988-07	17,494,000
1988-06	17,515,000
1988-05	17,481,000
1988-04	17,452,000
1988-03	17,447,000
1988-02	17,389,000
1988-01	17,365,000
1987-12	17,347,000
1987-11	17,299,000
1987-10	17,269,000
1987-09	17,135,000
1987-08	17,172,000
1987-07	17,160,000
1987-06	17,124,000
1987-05	17,112,000
1987-04	17,109,000
1987-03	17,064,000
1987-02	17,036,000
1987-01	17,045,000
1986-12	17,021,000
1986-11	17,005,000
1986-10	16,969,000
1986-09	16,910,000
1986-08	16,800,000
1986-07	16,779,000
1986-06	16,779,000
1986-05	16,790,000
1986-04	16,765,000
1986-03	16,755,000
1986-02	16,759,000
1986-01	16,715,000
1985-12	16,694,000
1985-11	16,674,000
1985-10	16,654,000
1985-09	16,638,000
1985-08	16,619,000
1985-07	16,620,000
1985-06	16,498,000
1985-05	16,474,000
1985-04	16,430,000
1985-03	16,395,000
1985-02	16,349,000
1985-01	16,336,000
1984-12	16,282,000
1984-11	16,311,000
1984-10	16,274,000
1984-09	16,255,000
1984-08	16,224,000
1984-07	16,172,000
1984-06	16,127,000
1984-05	16,103,000
1984-04	16,075,000
1984-03	16,030,000
1984-02	16,025,000
1984-01	16,010,000
1983-12	16,008,000
1983-11	15,997,000
1983-10	15,986,000
1983-09	16,042,000
1983-08	16,016,000
1983-07	16,011,000
1983-06	16,020,000
1983-05	16,005,000
1983-04	15,990,000
1983-03	16,005,000
1983-02	16,004,000
1983-01	16,023,000
1982-12	15,981,000
1982-11	15,977,000
1982-10	15,956,000
1982-09	15,923,000
1982-08	15,930,000
1982-07	15,890,000
1982-06	16,016,000
1982-05	16,003,000
1982-04	16,010,000
1982-03	16,024,000
1982-02	16,011,000
1982-01	16,041,000
1981-12	16,073,000
1981-11	16,078,000
1981-10	16,069,000
1981-09	16,031,000
1981-08	16,110,000
1981-07	16,175,000
1981-06	16,159,000
1981-05	16,198,000
1981-04	16,260,000
1981-03	16,292,000
1981-02	16,346,000
1981-01	16,360,000
1980-12	16,373,000
1980-11	16,391,000
1980-10	16,386,000
1980-09	16,330,000
1980-08	16,410,000
1980-07	16,418,000
1980-06	16,441,000
1980-05	16,454,000
1980-04	16,583,000
1980-03	16,296,000
1980-02	16,226,000
1980-01	16,201,000
1979-12	16,180,000
1979-11	16,173,000
1979-10	16,136,000
1979-09	16,128,000
1979-08	16,229,000
1979-07	16,150,000
1979-06	16,045,000
1979-05	15,990,000
1979-04	15,977,000
1979-03	15,956,000
1979-02	15,947,000
1979-01	15,937,000
1978-12	15,911,000
1978-11	15,894,000
1978-10	15,858,000
1978-09	15,819,000
1978-08	15,891,000
1978-07	15,901,000
1978-06	15,852,000
1978-05	15,834,000
1978-04	15,797,000
1978-03	15,731,000
1978-02	15,671,000
1978-01	15,611,000
1977-12	15,538,000
1977-11	15,515,000
1977-10	15,463,000
1977-09	15,403,000
1977-08	15,328,000
1977-07	15,299,000
1977-06	15,207,000
1977-05	15,132,000
1977-04	15,075,000
1977-03	15,050,000
1977-02	15,056,000
1977-01	15,056,000
1976-12	15,075,000
1976-11	15,073,000
1976-10	15,028,000

Rankings

US states by government payroll employment 51 places

Definition

Number of jobs on government payrolls in the month, seasonally adjusted, from the Current Employment Statistics (CES) survey of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The supersector covers federal, state and local government, including public schools, public hospitals and the Postal Service; active-duty military personnel are excluded.

One of the eleven CES supersectors that make up nonfarm_payroll_employment. Counts jobs on nonfarm payrolls, not people: someone with two jobs counts twice. It covers full-time and part-time employees paid for any part of the pay period that includes the 12th of the month, and excludes the self-employed, farm workers, private household workers and unpaid family workers.

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How to cite

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Current Employment Statistics: all employees, government, seasonally adjusted (CES9000000001). https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/ce/ce.data.90a.Government.Employment. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2026). Current Employment Statistics: all employees, government, seasonally adjusted (CES9000000001) (Government payroll employment, United States, 1976-10 to 2026-09) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/ce/ce.data.90a.Government.Employment

MLA 9

Current Employment Statistics: all employees, government, seasonally adjusted (CES9000000001), Government payroll employment, United States, 1976-10 to 2026-09. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2 Oct. 2026, https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/ce/ce.data.90a.Government.Employment. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/en/government-jobs/united-states. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2026. Current Employment Statistics: all employees, government, seasonally adjusted (CES9000000001). Government payroll employment, United States, 1976-10 to 2026-09. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/ce/ce.data.90a.Government.Employment. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/en/government-jobs/united-states.

Harvard

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2026) Current Employment Statistics: all employees, government, seasonally adjusted (CES9000000001), Government payroll employment, United States, 1976-10 to 2026-09 [Dataset]. Available at: https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/ce/ce.data.90a.Government.Employment, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/en/government-jobs/united-states (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX

@misc{bureau_government_payroll_employment_united_2026,
  author = {{U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics}},
  title = {{Current Employment Statistics: all employees, government, seasonally adjusted (CES9000000001): Government payroll employment, United States, 1976-10 to 2026-09}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/ce/ce.data.90a.Government.Employment},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/en/government-jobs/united-states. Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Current Employment Statistics: all employees, government, seasonally adjusted (CES9000000001). https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/ce/ce.data.90a.Government.Employment. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}

RIS

TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
TI  - Current Employment Statistics: all employees, government, seasonally adjusted (CES9000000001): Government payroll employment, United States, 1976-10 to 2026-09
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/02
PB  - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/ce/ce.data.90a.Government.Employment
L2  - https://invokely.ai/en/government-jobs/united-states
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/en/government-jobs/united-states.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Current Employment Statistics: all employees, government, seasonally adjusted (CES9000000001). https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/ce/ce.data.90a.Government.Employment. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -

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<iframe src="https://invokely.ai/embed/government-jobs/united-states" width="760" height="440" title="Government payroll employment, United States, chart from Invokely" loading="lazy" style="border:0;width:100%;max-width:760px" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin"></iframe>

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What is the latest government payroll employment in United States? Cite the source.

get_value {"indicator":"payroll_employment_government","place":"us"}
GET https://invokely.ai/api/v1/value?indicator=payroll_employment_government&place=us

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Questions

What is the government payroll employment in United States?

Government payroll employment in the United States was 23,327,000 jobs in September 2026, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That is down 0.9% from September 2025.

Where does this figure come from?

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Current Employment Statistics: all employees, government, seasonally adjusted (CES9000000001). Retrieved by Invokely on 2026-10-12.

What was the highest government payroll employment in United States?

23,586,000 jobs in June 2025, the highest value since October 1976 in this series.

Related statistics for United States

All statistics for United States | United States in figures