Montgomery, AL – The number of state employees in Alabama has declined 4.4 percent in the last year.
Figures from the state comptroller's office show 35,993 people worked for state agencies, boards, courts and other government offices when Alabama's fiscal year ended Sept. 30. That's down from 37,638 a year earlier.
Gov. Robert Bentley and others attribute the decline to layoffs at some agencies and other agencies not having the money to replace employees who resigned or retired. Bentley is predicting more declines for the next two years because of the state's financial situation.
The biggest declines among large state agencies included 14.7 percent at the Department of Agriculture and Industries and 14.1percent in the state court system.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)