The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that state and local governments added 17,000 jobs in August 2013. Since peaking in August 2008 state and local governments have shed 709,000 jobs, or approximately 3.58 percent of their total. By comparison private sector employment increased in August by 152,000 jobs. August 2013 marked the 42nd straight month of private sector job increase. Since peaking in January 2008 private sector jobs are down by about 1.2 percent of their total.
 

The chart below compares the relative changes in combined state and local government and private sector employment since 2003.