A Classification Audit
A Summary Report on Full-time Equivalent State Employees for Fiscal Year 2020
February 2021
Summary Analysis
During fiscal year 2020, state agencies and higher education institutions employed an average of 333,072.1 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees. That was an increase of 4,674.3 FTEs (or 1.4 percent) compared with the average number of FTEs in fiscal year 2019 (328,397.8). Specifically:
- State agencies employed an average of 146,047.9 FTEs in fiscal year 2020. That was a decrease of 276.5 FTEs (or 0.2 percent) since fiscal year 2019.
- Higher education institutions employed an average of 187,024.2 FTEs in fiscal year 2020. That was an increase of 4,950.8 FTEs (or 2.7 percent) since fiscal year 2019.
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. However, the information in this report was subject to certain quality control procedures to ensure accuracy.
Statewide, in fiscal year 2020, 66.6 percent of FTEs were paid from appropriated funds, including FTEs who were 100.0 percent federally funded programs. On average, in fiscal year 2020, 98.6 percent of FTEs at state agencies and 41.7 percent of FTEs at higher education institutions were paid from appropriated funds.
During fiscal year 2020, the State employed an average of 333,072.1 FTEs in state agencies and higher education institutions, which was an increase of 4,674.3 FTEs (or 1.4 percent) from fiscal year 2019, when the average number of FTEs was 328,397.8.
In the General Appropriations Act, the Legislature establishes state employment level limitations on FTEs (otherwise known as the FTE cap). The total state employment limitation in fiscal year 2020 was 214,470.6 FTEs, which was an increase of 2,537.0 FTEs (or 1.2 percent) from fiscal year 2019.
During fiscal year 2020, no state agency exceeded its legislatively mandated annual limitation on state employment levels; however, four state agencies exceeded their legislatively mandated quarterly limitations on state employment levels by an average of 24.3 percent.
During fiscal year 2020, 16 higher education institutions exceeded their legislatively mandated annual limitations on state employment levels by an average of 2.7 percent.
Statewide, the average management-to-staff ratio for fiscal year 2020, calculated using FTEs, was 1:10.0. State agencies averaged a management-to-staff ratio of 1:11.6, while higher education institutions averaged a management-to-staff ratio of 1:9.1.
Graphics, Media, Supporting documents