The number of people on state payrolls decreased just slightly in 2022 for full-time jobs but much more significantly for part-time jobs—nearly 12%. The largest decrease in part-timers was in higher education. State workforces handle police protection, health care, education, corrections, highway and infrastructure, transportation and natural resources, among other things. The total state government payroll in 2022 was about $27 billion, up 16% from 2017, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.