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13 Essential Facts About NYC's Public Workforce
By
Max Rivlin-Nadler
Published Mar 6, 2014
Modified Mar 6, 2014
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By
Max Rivlin-Nadler
Published Mar 6, 2014
Modified Mar 6, 2014
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Municipal employees! New York City is brought to life 24 hours a day by hard-working public servants who cannot be fired unless they are caught giving an atomic wedgie to the mayor (and then only maybe). These politicians come and go, but our city workers are the essential cogs who power the machinery of New York City, day in, day out. Obviously they're not literally cogs, they are people just like us, and thanks to a report [pdf] from the Mayor's Office of Operations and the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (who are... municipal workers themselves!) we now have a better picture of city's diverse workforce. Here are some interesting facts to bust out next time the municipal workforce comes up at a dinner party:
- There are 327,793 municipal employees, who have a median age of 45 years old.
- They are 57% female and 61% minority (thank you, Civil Rights Act! Screw you, private sector!).
- 39% of city workers are white, 32% black, 20% hispanic, and 8% asian.
- Highest percentage of white workers? The Fire Department (76%), of course.
- Highest percentage of minorities? Department of Corrections, Department of Homeless Services (86%).
- Highest percentage female? Department of Education (77%).
- Highest percentage male? Fire Department (76%).
- Workers make, on average, $65,299 every year.
- People usually start working for the city at the age of 29.
- Municipal workers are 93% unionized.
- Largest city agency? Department of Education (132,273).
- Smallest? Department of Records and Information Services (51).
- 82% of the city's workforce are civilians, while the rest are uniformed (police, fire, sanitation).
The whole report [pdf] is worth a look to get an idea of just how large the city workforce really is, and to see exactly where a lot of your tax money is going.
So the next time you see a city worker on the street, give 'em a pat on the back, because they're making sure your drinking water doesn't have piss in it, and that's pretty cool.
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city workers
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new york city
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Max Rivlin-Nadler
Max Rivlin-Nadler has been a contributor to Gothamist since 2013. He has also reported for the New York Times, NPR, and The Intercept. His years-long investigation into New York City's arcane civil forfeiture laws led to a series of reforms which altered a practice that had been taking millions from poor communities for decades. Recently, he brought back a surfing habit from a few years on the west coast, and would love to see you all out in the Rockaways.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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