California keeps hiring despite recession

The San Jose Mercury reports:

California's state government has managed to add thousands of jobs during the past year, defying a mammoth budget deficit and a brutal recession.

The job growth for state workers contrasts with the loss of 759,000 jobs in California's private industry in the past 12 months.

"I don't know how this can happen," said David Kline, a spokesman for the California Taxpayers Association. "A lot of people are having trouble keeping their jobs, paying their bills and feeding their families. Most taxpayers would be incredulous if they see these numbers."

During the 12 months that ended in June, state government added 3,600 jobs in California, according to numbers compiled by the California Employment Development Department. That's a 0.7 percent gain, even as private industry posted a 6 percent decrease in its total job base.

As long as government workers can vote and contribute money to politicians: stopping the bull market in government employment will not be easy.