President Joe Biden is ending his term with more government employees on the payroll than ever before, according to new data. As of December, there are about 23.5 million government workers across federal, state, and local levels, setting a new record under his presidency.
The U.S. government first reached this record in February 2024, despite overall unemployment rising at the same time. Federal employment alone has grown nearly 6% since Biden took office. In December, 33,000 government jobs were added, part of a monthly average of 37,000 new government jobs in 2024.
Critics, like Richard Stern from The Heritage Foundation, argue that Biden’s economic policies have weakened the private sector while increasing government jobs. “The private sector is being strangled, and resources are being shifted to government,” Stern said.
Although the U.S. added 256,000 jobs overall in December, about half of the jobs created in 2024 were taxpayer-funded positions, which economists say is unsustainable. EJ Antoni, another expert from The Heritage Foundation, explained that government jobs rely on tax revenue from private sector jobs. “When government grants are used to hire teachers or nurses, those jobs are still funded by taxpayers,” he said.
Meanwhile, private industries like manufacturing have suffered significant job losses. In 2024 alone, manufacturing lost nearly 100,000 jobs, and more losses are expected once data revisions are finalized.
Unemployment also rose to 4.1% in December, up from 3.8% a year earlier and 3.4% at its lowest point in January 2023. Many Americans are struggling financially, with some taking on second jobs to make ends meet. A survey found that over half of Americans worked side hustles in 2024 due to high costs of living.
Although inflation has decreased from its 2022 peak of 9.1%, it remains high. In November, the cost of everyday goods increased by 2.7% compared to the previous year. Federal spending and national debt have also soared under Biden’s administration. The national debt now stands at $36.15 trillion, with a deficit of $624 billion.
Critics say Biden’s policies, such as increased regulations and higher taxes, have hurt middle-class families. “Every dollar taken by the government is a dollar taken from hard-working Americans,” Stern said, accusing the administration of prioritizing government expansion over economic growth.
With President-elect Donald Trump set to take office soon, some Americans are hopeful for economic improvement. A recent survey found two-thirds of Americans believe the Trump administration will positively impact their careers. Small business owners are also optimistic, citing Trump’s past policies like deregulation, tax cuts, and lower inflation.
Alfredo Ortiz, CEO of the Job Creators Network, said, “Job creation ended strong in December as businesses look forward to the end of Bidenomics and the return of Trump’s pro-growth policies.”
Throughout his term, the Biden administration has celebrated economic growth and job creation. However, critics argue that the focus on expanding government jobs has come at the expense of private sector growth. The White House has not yet responded to these latest criticisms.
