Public Vs. Private Economy

Over the last two years, as America has experienced the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, workers have been battered. Employment has fallen sharply, with the employment rolls shrinking 5 percent from their peaks and unemployment around 10 percent. Hourly compensation has approximately kept pace with inflation but has not risen significantly in real terms.However, this broad picture masks a sharp difference between two classes of employees: those who work in the private sector and those who work for the government.