A Classification Audit
A Summary Report on Full-time Equivalent State Employees for Fiscal Year 2018
February 2019
Summary Analysis
During fiscal year 2018, state agencies and higher education institutions employed an average of 324,368.7 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees. That was a decrease of 2,647.0 FTEs (a decrease of 0.8 percent) compared with the average number of FTEs in fiscal year 2017 (327,015.7).
Specifically:
- State agencies employed an average of 144,905.9 FTEs in fiscal year 2018. That was a decrease of 4,613.4 FTEs (a decrease of 3.1 percent) since fiscal year 2017.
- Higher education institutions employed an average of 179,462.8 FTEs in fiscal year 2018. That was an increase of 1,966.4 FTEs (or 1.1 percent) since fiscal year 2017.
In addition, the average management-to-staff ratio statewide complied with the statutorily mandated ratio.
It is important to note that state agencies and higher education institutions self-reported the FTE data presented in this report, and the State Auditor’s Office did not independently verify that data.
On average in fiscal year 2018, 98.8 percent of FTEs in state agencies and 42.1 percent of FTEs in higher education institutions were paid from appropriated funds. Statewide, in fiscal year 2018, 67.4 percent of FTEs were paid from appropriated funds, which includes 100.0 percent federally funded programs.
During fiscal year 2018, the State employed an average of 324,368.7 FTEs in state agencies and higher education institutions. Statewide, there was a decrease of 2,647.0 FTEs (a decrease of 0.8 percent) when compared to the 327,015.7 FTEs in fiscal year 2017. Within state agencies, average FTEs decreased by 4,613.4 (a decrease of 3.1 percent), while higher education institutions’ average FTEs increased by 1,966.4 (or 1.1 percent).
In the General Appropriations Act, the Legislature establishes state employment level limitations on FTEs. Those limitations have decreased 7.9 percent compared to 10 years ago in fiscal year 2009, when the limitation was 234,648.7 FTEs.
State employment limitations in fiscal year 2018 decreased by 2,035.6 FTEs (a decrease of 0.9 percent) when compared to fiscal year 2017.
During fiscal year 2018, no state agency exceeded its legislatively mandated annual limitations on state employment levels; however, two state agencies exceeded their legislatively mandated quarterly limitations on state employment levels. Those state agencies exceeded their limitations by an average of 2.1 percent. Similarly, during fiscal year 2018, 19 higher education institutions exceeded their annual limitations on state employment levels by an average of 14.0 percent.
Statewide, the average management-to-staff ratio, calculated using FTEs, for fiscal year 2018 was 1:11.0 (1 manager or supervisor FTE per 11 supervised staff FTEs). State agencies averaged a management-to-staff ratio of 1:12.6, while higher education institutions averaged a management-to-staff ratio of 1:10.1.
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