SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) -- How's this for turning political perceptions on their heads?
Government-loving, blue state Minnesota has the lowest percentage of state government workers in the non-farm workforce in the region and one of the lowest in the United States.
Meanwhile, government-hating, red state Wyoming has the highest percentage in the region and the highest percentage in the nation.
That's according to a recent study by muninetguide.com, based on their analysis of U.S. Census Bureau statistics.
The breakdown in the seven state region:
- South Dakota--14.52 percent of the non-farm workforce work in state government.
- Montana--15.56 percent.
- North Dakota--15.25 percent.
- Minnesota--12.85 percent.
- Iowa--15.33 percent.
- Nebraska--14.71 percent.
- Wyoming--21.62 percent. (National high)
Alaska had the second highest percentage of state government workers in the workforce at 18.23 percent. Nevada had the lowest percentage at 10.28 percent.
The same study also indicated that from 2015 to 2016, the number of South Dakota's state and local government employees decreased by 0.77 percent for full-time employees, with an overall decrease of 0.31 percent of all state and local workers.