Florida gov't worker pay falls

State and local government employees earned $508 million less in the third quarter of 2011 than in the prior quarter.

For all Floridians, personal incomes fell by about 1% in the third quarter relative to the prior three months, according to new data from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Economic Analysis.

The decrease in pay experienced by government workers brought their personal incomes down 7%, the BEA says.

On the other end of the spectrum were health care and social assistance employees. Their earnings grew 10% over the quarter, with $722 million in compensation increases.

To calculate personal incomes, the BEA combines three income sources: net earnings (e.g., salary); dividends, interest, and rent earnings; and transfer receipts (e.g., Social Security payments).

Florida net earnings increased by nearly $1.2 billion, but a near equivalent decrease in transfer payments -- plus a $657 million drop in dividend, interest, and rent income -- caused the 1% drop to Florida personal incomes.