Long Beach payroll data reveals shocking employment trends over a decade
- Long Beach paid 1,248 employees nearly $43 million in 2023.
- Payroll spending increased by 4.2% from the previous year's total of $41.3 million.
- The city invests in employee compensation as part of its financial commitments.
In the United States, specifically in Long Beach, payroll data revealed that the city compensated 1,248 employees with a total of nearly $43 million in 2023. This amount represented a 4.2% increase from the previous year, 2022, when the total payroll was $41.3 million. The figures were obtained through an analysis conducted by Newsday, leveraging public employee salary data available under the state's Freedom of Information Law. This increase in payroll spending reflects ongoing financial commitments by the city to its employees, including various contractual obligations. Furthermore, it is important to note that the total payroll amounts can include additional compensation beyond base salaries, such as overtime payments and payouts for unused sick or vacation leave for retiring employees. These variables indicate that the overall compensation can vary significantly from the employee's regular salary due to various reasons impacting their working conditions throughout the year. As a result, even employees who may not have worked the full year could have their pay reflected in these overall totals. The higher payroll figures suggest that the city may be investing in employee retention and satisfaction, essential factors in maintaining a competent municipal workforce. This trend points to a broader understanding of the importance of human resources in local government operations, especially in the face of workforce challenges that many municipalities are experiencing today. Overall, such increases in payroll can be both a signal and a response to the economic conditions influencing employment and local governance. In summary, the figures from 2023 demonstrate a commitment by Long Beach to its employees amid ongoing fiscal dynamics. It underscores the efforts made by the city to ensure that its workforce is adequately compensated, which might contribute to overall job satisfaction and retention rates in an increasingly competitive employment landscape.