ABSTRACT
During the 1960s and 1970s, public employees made substantial gains in pay levels and other types of employee benefits. In fact, the level of pay for certain public sector personnel has caused debate over whether public employee compensation has exceeded the ability of the governments to pay (Pierce 1975:1199). Yet, the most important non-monetary benefit of public employment has been the job security provided to the majority of civil servants at the local, state, and federal levels. Since the depression, public service employment has grown steadily, particularly within state and local governments. The growth in government has insulated public employees from the recession-induced layoffs that periodically hit the private sector. When cuts in government expenditures have occurred, the majority of public employers have used hiring freezes, attrition, and early retirement incentives to avoid employee layoffs.
