Figure 6. Government employment, seasonally adjusted, January 1939–December 2015
Date Employment level (in thousands)

Jan 1939

3,988

Feb 1939

4,001

Mar 1939

4,002

Apr 1939

4,002

May 1939

4,006

Jun 1939

4,003

Jul 1939

4,019

Aug 1939

4,046

Sep 1939

4,076

Oct 1939

4,089

Nov 1939

4,109

Dec 1939

4,134

Jan 1940

4,150

Feb 1940

4,150

Mar 1940

4,151

Apr 1940

4,152

May 1940

4,172

Jun 1940

4,218

Jul 1940

4,261

Aug 1940

4,282

Sep 1940

4,312

Oct 1940

4,353

Nov 1940

4,396

Dec 1940

4,415

Jan 1941

4,468

Feb 1941

4,504

Mar 1941

4,535

Apr 1941

4,585

May 1941

4,642

Jun 1941

4,701

Jul 1941

4,750

Aug 1941

4,821

Sep 1941

4,891

Oct 1941

4,907

Nov 1941

4,949

Dec 1941

4,971

Jan 1942

5,089

Feb 1942

5,146

Mar 1942

5,257

Apr 1942

5,357

May 1942

5,431

Jun 1942

5,510

Jul 1942

5,591

Aug 1942

5,814

Sep 1942

5,866

Oct 1942

5,956

Nov 1942

6,026

Dec 1942

6,072

Jan 1943

6,132

Feb 1943

6,223

Mar 1943

6,257

Apr 1943

6,267

May 1943

6,281

Jun 1943

6,324

Jul 1943

6,257

Aug 1943

6,151

Sep 1943

6,167

Oct 1943

6,170

Nov 1943

6,179

Dec 1943

6,271

Jan 1944

6,162

Feb 1944

6,129

Mar 1944

6,113

Apr 1944

6,112

May 1944

6,121

Jun 1944

6,147

Jul 1944

6,190

Aug 1944

6,204

Sep 1944

6,216

Oct 1944

6,223

Nov 1944

6,263

Dec 1944

6,375

Jan 1945

6,254

Feb 1945

6,239

Mar 1945

6,216

Apr 1945

6,185

May 1945

6,159

Jun 1945

6,181

Jul 1945

6,185

Aug 1945

6,135

Sep 1945

5,942

Oct 1945

5,854

Nov 1945

5,830

Dec 1945

5,811

Jan 1946

5,785

Feb 1946

5,778

Mar 1946

5,758

Apr 1946

5,761

May 1946

5,732

Jun 1946

5,680

Jul 1946

5,682

Aug 1946

5,681

Sep 1946

5,669

Oct 1946

5,664

Nov 1946

5,639

Dec 1946

5,628

Jan 1947

5,619

Feb 1947

5,606

Mar 1947

5,588

Apr 1947

5,558

May 1947

5,551

Jun 1947

5,524

Jul 1947

5,524

Aug 1947

5,519

Sep 1947

5,539

Oct 1947

5,566

Nov 1947

5,585

Dec 1947

5,605

Jan 1948

5,624

Feb 1948

5,615

Mar 1948

5,623

Apr 1948

5,643

May 1948

5,681

Jun 1948

5,736

Jul 1948

5,774

Aug 1948

5,791

Sep 1948

5,805

Oct 1948

5,829

Nov 1948

5,869

Dec 1948

5,888

Jan 1949

5,894

Feb 1949

5,893

Mar 1949

5,915

Apr 1949

5,948

May 1949

5,962

Jun 1949

5,956

Jul 1949

5,962

Aug 1949

5,985

Sep 1949

5,990

Oct 1949

5,970

Nov 1949

5,950

Dec 1949

5,952

Jan 1950

5,934

Feb 1950

5,926

Mar 1950

6,078

Apr 1950

6,094

May 1950

6,043

Jun 1950

6,022

Jul 1950

6,090

Aug 1950

6,187

Sep 1950

6,228

Oct 1950

6,249

Nov 1950

6,262

Dec 1950

6,314

Jan 1951

6,352

Feb 1951

6,382

Mar 1951

6,410

Apr 1951

6,451

May 1951

6,417

Jun 1951

6,499

Jul 1951

6,538

Aug 1951

6,519

Sep 1951

6,552

Oct 1951

6,577

Nov 1951

6,626

Dec 1951

6,688

Jan 1952

6,589

Feb 1952

6,650

Mar 1952

6,662

Apr 1952

6,662

May 1952

6,694

Jun 1952

6,712

Jul 1952

6,737

Aug 1952

6,718

Sep 1952

6,734

Oct 1952

6,816

Nov 1952

6,801

Dec 1952

6,935

Jan 1953

6,794

Feb 1953

6,797

Mar 1953

6,784

Apr 1953

6,770

May 1953

6,717

Jun 1953

6,734

Jul 1953

6,723

Aug 1953

6,754

Sep 1953

6,749

Oct 1953

6,764

Nov 1953

6,749

Dec 1953

6,743

Jan 1954

6,760

Feb 1954

6,783

Mar 1954

6,796

Apr 1954

6,806

May 1954

6,829

Jun 1954

6,846

Jul 1954

6,868

Aug 1954

6,892

Sep 1954

6,894

Oct 1954

6,900

Nov 1954

6,964

Dec 1954

6,957

Jan 1955

6,953

Feb 1955

6,923

Mar 1955

6,938

Apr 1955

6,959

May 1955

6,991

Jun 1955

7,020

Jul 1955

7,049

Aug 1955

7,023

Sep 1955

7,067

Oct 1955

7,118

Nov 1955

7,083

Dec 1955

7,132

Jan 1956

7,167

Feb 1956

7,212

Mar 1956

7,252

Apr 1956

7,276

May 1956

7,367

Jun 1956

7,367

Jul 1956

7,405

Aug 1956

7,451

Sep 1956

7,481

Oct 1956

7,519

Nov 1956

7,553

Dec 1956

7,584

Jan 1957

7,620

Feb 1957

7,646

Mar 1957

7,672

Apr 1957

7,701

May 1957

7,713

Jun 1957

7,702

Jul 1957

7,754

Aug 1957

7,757

Sep 1957

7,749

Oct 1957

7,768

Nov 1957

7,769

Dec 1957

7,846

Jan 1958

7,821

Feb 1958

7,832

Mar 1958

7,848

Apr 1958

7,868

May 1958

7,894

Jun 1958

7,926

Jul 1958

7,972

Aug 1958

8,012

Sep 1958

8,016

Oct 1958

8,031

Nov 1958

8,028

Dec 1958

8,100

Jan 1959

8,105

Feb 1959

8,116

Mar 1959

8,132

Apr 1959

8,142

May 1959

8,153

Jun 1959

8,143

Jul 1959

8,173

Aug 1959

8,181

Sep 1959

8,239

Oct 1959

8,265

Nov 1959

8,284

Dec 1959

8,368

Jan 1960

8,307

Feb 1960

8,326

Mar 1960

8,525

Apr 1960

8,534

May 1960

8,432

Jun 1960

8,432

Jul 1960

8,442

Aug 1960

8,472

Sep 1960

8,494

Oct 1960

8,502

Nov 1960

8,516

Dec 1960

8,597

Jan 1961

8,564

Feb 1961

8,587

Mar 1961

8,611

Apr 1961

8,629

May 1961

8,664

Jun 1961

8,688

Jul 1961

8,724

Aug 1961

8,764

Sep 1961

8,796

Oct 1961

8,805

Nov 1961

8,812

Dec 1961

8,836

Jan 1962

8,851

Feb 1962

8,878

Mar 1962

8,901

Apr 1962

8,922

May 1962

8,958

Jun 1962

9,000

Jul 1962

9,026

Aug 1962

9,063

Sep 1962

9,089

Oct 1962

9,114

Nov 1962

9,145

Dec 1962

9,126

Jan 1963

9,204

Feb 1963

9,231

Mar 1963

9,245

Apr 1963

9,264

May 1963

9,288

Jun 1963

9,302

Jul 1963

9,334

Aug 1963

9,368

Sep 1963

9,417

Oct 1963

9,479

Nov 1963

9,484

Dec 1963

9,497

Jan 1964

9,562

Feb 1964

9,581

Mar 1964

9,611

Apr 1964

9,644

May 1964

9,670

Jun 1964

9,669

Jul 1964

9,677

Aug 1964

9,732

Sep 1964

9,786

Oct 1964

9,845

Nov 1964

9,879

Dec 1964

9,897

Jan 1965

9,937

Feb 1965

9,974

Mar 1965

10,010

Apr 1965

10,051

May 1965

10,094

Jun 1965

10,128

Jul 1965

10,201

Aug 1965

10,271

Sep 1965

10,338

Oct 1965

10,378

Nov 1965

10,436

Dec 1965

10,499

Jan 1966

10,541

Feb 1966

10,611

Mar 1966

10,692

Apr 1966

10,759

May 1966

10,821

Jun 1966

10,902

Jul 1966

10,974

Aug 1966

11,006

Sep 1966

11,063

Oct 1966

11,127

Nov 1966

11,203

Dec 1966

11,256

Jan 1967

11,315

Feb 1967

11,353

Mar 1967

11,397

Apr 1967

11,435

May 1967

11,474

Jun 1967

11,534

Jul 1967

11,544

Aug 1967

11,590

Sep 1967

11,623

Oct 1967

11,642

Nov 1967

11,695

Dec 1967

11,735

Jan 1968

11,794

Feb 1968

11,819

Mar 1968

11,842

Apr 1968

11,878

May 1968

11,905

Jun 1968

11,987

Jul 1968

12,018

Aug 1968

12,042

Sep 1968

12,067

Oct 1968

12,101

Nov 1968

12,107

Dec 1968

12,145

Jan 1969

12,209

Feb 1969

12,224

Mar 1969

12,229

Apr 1969

12,245

May 1969

12,284

Jun 1969

12,359

Jul 1969

12,340

Aug 1969

12,373

Sep 1969

12,379

Oct 1969

12,430

Nov 1969

12,448

Dec 1969

12,477

Jan 1970

12,496

Feb 1970

12,518

Mar 1970

12,603

Apr 1970

12,705

May 1970

12,668

Jun 1970

12,667

Jul 1970

12,697

Aug 1970

12,711

Sep 1970

12,741

Oct 1970

12,793

Nov 1970

12,830

Dec 1970

12,845

Jan 1971

12,878

Feb 1971

12,877

Mar 1971

12,908

Apr 1971

12,945

May 1971

12,970

Jun 1971

13,008

Jul 1971

13,011

Aug 1971

13,041

Sep 1971

13,068

Oct 1971

13,115

Nov 1971

13,148

Dec 1971

13,190

Jan 1972

13,266

Feb 1972

13,298

Mar 1972

13,329

Apr 1972

13,358

May 1972

13,416

Jun 1972

13,405

Jul 1972

13,482

Aug 1972

13,530

Sep 1972

13,575

Oct 1972

13,606

Nov 1972

13,643

Dec 1972

13,684

Jan 1973

13,690

Feb 1973

13,711

Mar 1973

13,745

Apr 1973

13,777

May 1973

13,817

Jun 1973

13,872

Jul 1973

13,865

Aug 1973

13,904

Sep 1973

13,892

Oct 1973

13,977

Nov 1973

14,035

Dec 1973

14,070

Jan 1974

14,090

Feb 1974

14,135

Mar 1974

14,152

Apr 1974

14,191

May 1974

14,221

Jun 1974

14,239

Jul 1974

14,288

Aug 1974

14,328

Sep 1974

14,422

Oct 1974

14,484

Nov 1974

14,532

Dec 1974

14,559

Jan 1975

14,624

Feb 1975

14,747

Mar 1975

14,754

Apr 1975

14,795

May 1975

14,827

Jun 1975

14,784

Jul 1975

14,861

Aug 1975

14,870

Sep 1975

14,824

Oct 1975

14,900

Nov 1975

14,903

Dec 1975

14,946

Jan 1976

14,969

Feb 1976

14,981

Mar 1976

14,987

Apr 1976

14,985

May 1976

14,971

Jun 1976

14,963

Jul 1976

14,993

Aug 1976

15,007

Sep 1976

14,971

Oct 1976

15,028

Nov 1976

15,073

Dec 1976

15,075

Jan 1977

15,056

Feb 1977

15,056

Mar 1977

15,050

Apr 1977

15,075

May 1977

15,132

Jun 1977

15,207

Jul 1977

15,299

Aug 1977

15,328

Sep 1977

15,403

Oct 1977

15,463

Nov 1977

15,515

Dec 1977

15,538

Jan 1978

15,611

Feb 1978

15,671

Mar 1978

15,731

Apr 1978

15,797

May 1978

15,834

Jun 1978

15,852

Jul 1978

15,901

Aug 1978

15,891

Sep 1978

15,819

Oct 1978

15,858

Nov 1978

15,894

Dec 1978

15,911

Jan 1979

15,937

Feb 1979

15,947

Mar 1979

15,956

Apr 1979

15,977

May 1979

15,990

Jun 1979

16,045

Jul 1979

16,150

Aug 1979

16,229

Sep 1979

16,128

Oct 1979

16,136

Nov 1979

16,173

Dec 1979

16,180

Jan 1980

16,201

Feb 1980

16,226

Mar 1980

16,296

Apr 1980

16,583

May 1980

16,454

Jun 1980

16,441

Jul 1980

16,418

Aug 1980

16,410

Sep 1980

16,330

Oct 1980

16,386

Nov 1980

16,391

Dec 1980

16,373

Jan 1981

16,360

Feb 1981

16,346

Mar 1981

16,292

Apr 1981

16,260

May 1981

16,198

Jun 1981

16,159

Jul 1981

16,175

Aug 1981

16,110

Sep 1981

16,031

Oct 1981

16,069

Nov 1981

16,078

Dec 1981

16,073

Jan 1982

16,041

Feb 1982

16,011

Mar 1982

16,024

Apr 1982

16,010

May 1982

16,003

Jun 1982

16,016

Jul 1982

15,890

Aug 1982

15,930

Sep 1982

15,923

Oct 1982

15,956

Nov 1982

15,977

Dec 1982

15,981

Jan 1983

16,023

Feb 1983

16,004

Mar 1983

16,005

Apr 1983

15,990

May 1983

16,005

Jun 1983

16,020

Jul 1983

16,011

Aug 1983

16,016

Sep 1983

16,042

Oct 1983

15,986

Nov 1983

15,997

Dec 1983

16,008

Jan 1984

16,010

Feb 1984

16,025

Mar 1984

16,030

Apr 1984

16,075

May 1984

16,103

Jun 1984

16,127

Jul 1984

16,172

Aug 1984

16,224

Sep 1984

16,255

Oct 1984

16,274

Nov 1984

16,311

Dec 1984

16,282

Jan 1985

16,336

Feb 1985

16,349

Mar 1985

16,395

Apr 1985

16,430

May 1985

16,474

Jun 1985

16,498

Jul 1985

16,620

Aug 1985

16,619

Sep 1985

16,638

Oct 1985

16,654

Nov 1985

16,674

Dec 1985

16,694

Jan 1986

16,715

Feb 1986

16,759

Mar 1986

16,755

Apr 1986

16,765

May 1986

16,790

Jun 1986

16,779

Jul 1986

16,779

Aug 1986

16,800

Sep 1986

16,910

Oct 1986

16,969

Nov 1986

17,005

Dec 1986

17,021

Jan 1987

17,045

Feb 1987

17,036

Mar 1987

17,064

Apr 1987

17,109

May 1987

17,112

Jun 1987

17,124

Jul 1987

17,160

Aug 1987

17,172

Sep 1987

17,135

Oct 1987

17,269

Nov 1987

17,299

Dec 1987

17,347

Jan 1988

17,365

Feb 1988

17,389

Mar 1988

17,447

Apr 1988

17,452

May 1988

17,481

Jun 1988

17,515

Jul 1988

17,494

Aug 1988

17,544

Sep 1988

17,634

Oct 1988

17,670

Nov 1988

17,746

Dec 1988

17,736

Jan 1989

17,774

Feb 1989

17,812

Mar 1989

17,822

Apr 1989

17,840

May 1989

17,876

Jun 1989

17,912

Jul 1989

17,905

Aug 1989

17,989

Sep 1989

18,027

Oct 1989

18,033

Nov 1989

18,057

Dec 1989

18,075

Jan 1990

18,151

Feb 1990

18,177

Mar 1990

18,294

Apr 1990

18,377

May 1990

18,599

Jun 1990

18,556

Jul 1990

18,560

Aug 1990

18,457

Sep 1990

18,437

Oct 1990

18,443

Nov 1990

18,450

Dec 1990

18,468

Jan 1991

18,474

Feb 1991

18,482

Mar 1991

18,488

Apr 1991

18,485

May 1991

18,498

Jun 1991

18,561

Jul 1991

18,598

Aug 1991

18,567

Sep 1991

18,543

Oct 1991

18,593

Nov 1991

18,627

Dec 1991

18,641

Jan 1992

18,688

Feb 1992

18,689

Mar 1992

18,715

Apr 1992

18,739

May 1992

18,753

Jun 1992

18,762

Jul 1992

18,817

Aug 1992

18,883

Sep 1992

18,829

Oct 1992

18,828

Nov 1992

18,841

Dec 1992

18,878

Jan 1993

18,901

Feb 1993

18,902

Mar 1993

18,907

Apr 1993

18,938

May 1993

18,951

Jun 1993

18,969

Jul 1993

19,060

Aug 1993

19,028

Sep 1993

19,041

Oct 1993

19,042

Nov 1993

19,068

Dec 1993

19,109

Jan 1994

19,147

Feb 1994

19,150

Mar 1994

19,190

Apr 1994

19,223

May 1994

19,264

Jun 1994

19,274

Jul 1994

19,301

Aug 1994

19,306

Sep 1994

19,337

Oct 1994

19,344

Nov 1994

19,367

Dec 1994

19,388

Jan 1995

19,397

Feb 1995

19,407

Mar 1995

19,427

Apr 1995

19,434

May 1995

19,418

Jun 1995

19,445

Jul 1995

19,437

Aug 1995

19,429

Sep 1995

19,430

Oct 1995

19,464

Nov 1995

19,463

Dec 1995

19,466

Jan 1996

19,450

Feb 1996

19,485

Mar 1996

19,532

Apr 1996

19,515

May 1996

19,529

Jun 1996

19,528

Jul 1996

19,547

Aug 1996

19,504

Sep 1996

19,567

Oct 1996

19,554

Nov 1996

19,565

Dec 1996

19,571

Jan 1997

19,593

Feb 1997

19,598

Mar 1997

19,608

Apr 1997

19,603

May 1997

19,601

Jun 1997

19,660

Jul 1997

19,686

Aug 1997

19,617

Sep 1997

19,679

Oct 1997

19,738

Nov 1997

19,761

Dec 1997

19,766

Jan 1998

19,770

Feb 1998

19,786

Mar 1998

19,792

Apr 1998

19,816

May 1998

19,875

Jun 1998

19,879

Jul 1998

19,930

Aug 1998

19,959

Sep 1998

19,985

Oct 1998

20,001

Nov 1998

20,044

Dec 1998

20,079

Jan 1999

20,084

Feb 1999

20,144

Mar 1999

20,168

Apr 1999

20,237

May 1999

20,229

Jun 1999

20,272

Jul 1999

20,339

Aug 1999

20,375

Sep 1999

20,404

Oct 1999

20,457

Nov 1999

20,496

Dec 1999

20,540

Jan 2000

20,571

Feb 2000

20,599

Mar 2000

20,733

Apr 2000

20,802

May 2000

21,147

Jun 2000

20,887

Jul 2000

20,867

Aug 2000

20,837

Sep 2000

20,735

Oct 2000

20,743

Nov 2000

20,760

Dec 2000

20,804

Jan 2001

20,835

Feb 2001

20,906

Mar 2001

20,945

Apr 2001

20,992

May 2001

21,029

Jun 2001

21,137

Jul 2001

21,185

Aug 2001

21,218

Sep 2001

21,242

Oct 2001

21,275

Nov 2001

21,326

Dec 2001

21,355

Jan 2002

21,377

Feb 2002

21,390

Mar 2002

21,431

Apr 2002

21,443

May 2002

21,514

Jun 2002

21,549

Jul 2002

21,544

Aug 2002

21,589

Sep 2002

21,546

Oct 2002

21,559

Nov 2002

21,581

Dec 2002

21,588

Jan 2003

21,626

Feb 2003

21,624

Mar 2003

21,610

Apr 2003

21,595

May 2003

21,567

Jun 2003

21,606

Jul 2003

21,633

Aug 2003

21,556

Sep 2003

21,504

Oct 2003

21,558

Nov 2003

21,535

Dec 2003

21,546

Jan 2004

21,538

Feb 2004

21,550

Mar 2004

21,588

Apr 2004

21,614

May 2004

21,614

Jun 2004

21,601

Jul 2004

21,606

Aug 2004

21,626

Sep 2004

21,635

Oct 2004

21,656

Nov 2004

21,692

Dec 2004

21,693

Jan 2005

21,735

Feb 2005

21,744

Mar 2005

21,740

Apr 2005

21,754

May 2005

21,781

Jun 2005

21,763

Jul 2005

21,857

Aug 2005

21,863

Sep 2005

21,845

Oct 2005

21,829

Nov 2005

21,859

Dec 2005

21,879

Jan 2006

21,847

Feb 2006

21,878

Mar 2006

21,903

Apr 2006

21,919

May 2006

21,926

Jun 2006

21,922

Jul 2006

21,973

Aug 2006

22,011

Sep 2006

22,082

Oct 2006

22,068

Nov 2006

22,083

Dec 2006

22,088

Jan 2007

22,095

Feb 2007

22,131

Mar 2007

22,149

Apr 2007

22,175

May 2007

22,193

Jun 2007

22,207

Jul 2007

22,171

Aug 2007

22,226

Sep 2007

22,279

Oct 2007

22,297

Nov 2007

22,334

Dec 2007

22,376

Jan 2008

22,388

Feb 2008

22,417

Mar 2008

22,443

Apr 2008

22,450

May 2008

22,483

Jun 2008

22,517

Jul 2008

22,568

Aug 2008

22,567

Sep 2008

22,537

Oct 2008

22,549

Nov 2008

22,560

Dec 2008

22,556

Jan 2009

22,579

Feb 2009

22,576

Mar 2009

22,560

Apr 2009

22,677

May 2009

22,617

Jun 2009

22,576

Jul 2009

22,521

Aug 2009

22,537

Sep 2009

22,451

Oct 2009

22,524

Nov 2009

22,533

Dec 2009

22,482

Jan 2010

22,491

Feb 2010

22,476

Mar 2010

22,518

Apr 2010

22,569

May 2010

22,996

Jun 2010

22,740

Jul 2010

22,569

Aug 2010

22,420

Sep 2010

22,247

Oct 2010

22,297

Nov 2010

22,287

Dec 2010

22,266

Jan 2011

22,258

Feb 2011

22,215

Mar 2011

22,192

Apr 2011

22,184

May 2011

22,129

Jun 2011

22,164

Jul 2011

22,049

Aug 2011

22,017

Sep 2011

21,983

Oct 2011

21,998

Nov 2011

21,971

Dec 2011

21,954

Jan 2012

21,945

Feb 2012

21,941

Mar 2012

21,943

Apr 2012

21,928

May 2012

21,913

Jun 2012

21,928

Jul 2012

21,911

Aug 2012

21,927

Sep 2012

21,928

Oct 2012

21,896

Nov 2012

21,874

Dec 2012

21,884

Jan 2013

21,871

Feb 2013

21,885

Mar 2013

21,870

Apr 2013

21,869

May 2013

21,862

Jun 2013

21,835

Jul 2013

21,813

Aug 2013

21,840

Sep 2013

21,846

Oct 2013

21,832

Nov 2013

21,843

Dec 2013

21,817

Jan 2014

21,807

Feb 2014

21,817

Mar 2014

21,828

Apr 2014

21,856

May 2014

21,854

Jun 2014

21,893

Jul 2014

21,881

Aug 2014

21,868

Sep 2014

21,917

Oct 2014

21,927

Nov 2014

21,934

Dec 2014

21,947

Jan 2015

21,954

Feb 2015

21,967

Mar 2015

21,961

Apr 2015

21,971

May 2015

21,988

Jun 2015

21,990

Jul 2015

22,022

Aug 2015

22,049

Sep 2015

22,036

Oct 2015

22,027

Nov 2015

22,028

Dec 2015

22,040

Source: Current Employment Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.