Since 1985, the Public Employees Roundtable and its member organizations (which are mostly at the federal and national level) have organized Public Service Recognition Week to honor those who serve as federal, state, county and local government employees. It is hard to imagine a place’s quality of life without everyone from first responders to park rangers to teachers and many more.
Public employment has decreased in recent years. This graphic includes local and state workers in education.
Source: Employment Forecast 2014-2016, Office of Employment and Statistics, Arizona Department of Administration.