The human services field, like many career areas, offer
several opportunities in both the public and private sectors. Human services
jobs in the public sector often involve working in local government agencies
like the Department of Human Services, Community Services Boards, and state funded
mental health facilities and agencies. There are even more opportunities in the
private sector, as there are more private providers looking for staff. There are several differences in public and
private sector employment. These differences should be considered when trying
to find your career path.
Working in the Public Sector
Public sector employment involves working for any local,
state or federal agency. Working in the public sector can provide a great deal
of satisfaction. Public employees are valued for the services they provide to
the community. We see the impact of public services from the moment we wake up.
The water we use, the cut grass along the interstate, road signs, pothole
repair, and the parks we enjoy are all a product of public sector employment.
Working for the public can be a challenge, but it can also be extremely
rewarding. Public employees are commonly referred to as “public servants.” They
serve the community, and their work is often overlooked unless there is a
problem. A prime example is our postal services. The U.S. Postal Service
probably processes millions of pieces of mail per day, but we often don’t
notice it until our mail is late or we get the neighbor’s mail.
Service Focused
The public sector is primarily focused on providing services
to the citizens of that community. These services can range from trash pickup
and social services to serving on the city council. Unfortunately, public
sector employment often does not produce revenue and is dependent upon tax
revenues and fees for their operational costs and employee salaries. Most
departments in the public sector have limited budgets but are still expected to
provide a high level of services. Most departments rarely have a surplus at the
end of the fiscal year. In fact, most departments are encouraged to spend it
all before the end of the year. The primary purpose of the public sector is to
provide a service and not to gain a profit.
Public Scrutiny
Public sector employment is pretty much 100% funded through
taxpayer dollars. For this reason, public employees have to be mindful of how
they are perceived by the public. This is especially true for employees who
tend to be widely visible and utilize city/state vehicles. Public employees are
sometimes viewed in a negative light. We’ve all heard the joke about the one
public works employee that’s actually working and the 10 employees watching
him. Of course, the truth is that most public employees work hard and often
have to stretch limited resources to get the job done.
Public Sector Salaries
Public employees usually enjoy good health insurance and
retirement benefits. However, public employees typically (not always) earn less
than employees in the private sector. Of course, this depends on who you ask.
Many believe that public employees are overpaid. In general, public employees
tend to have less negotiating power when it comes to salary. Salaries usually
have a set pay range according to the type of position. These “pay bands” are
not negotiable unless they are adjusted as a whole by a governing body. Pay
raises are usually given across the board instead of individual performance.
This can be viewed as positive or negative, depending on
your perspective. Pay raises at the local level are usually approved by the
city council, and everyone receives the same increase in salary. For example,
if the city government decides there is enough money to raise salaries by 3%,
everyone receives that percentage. Many feel that this approach punishes those
who perform well and rewards employees that perform at an average level.
Unfortunately, this system does not encourage competition or a high level of
performance. Many public employees have not had raises in years. These
conditions usually don’t motivate one to do their best. In addition, pay raises
in the public sector usually end up translating into increased fees and/or
taxes. This tends to add to the public scrutiny.
What Is a Private Sector Employee?
Private employment consists of any work outside of local,
state, and federal agencies. Private sector employees provide us with the
products and services we use every day. Private sector employees are business
owners, financial institutions, contractors, and the list goes on and on. The
private sector is vital to our economy because it can produce more job
opportunities than the public sector. The public sector also benefits from the
private sector in the form of tax revenues. It’s no secret that when the private
sector is doing well, everyone does well.
The private sector has more flexibility in just about every
aspect of employment. Business owners can set their own hours and can hire
employees without some of the strict guidelines of the public sector.
State and federal positions have very specific requirements
for some positions. For example, some positions require a master’s degree in
social work and will not accept anything else. Of course, someone with a
master’s degree in counseling or any other human services field could easily do
the same job as someone with a master's degree in social work. In the public
sector, once the job description and requirements are set, there is little to
no flexibility in the selection process.
Revenue Focused
The private sector is more focused on revenue than the
public sector. Private sector businesses don’t have the luxury of raising taxes
when they need to produce more revenue. Although the private sector provides a
service, the customer usually pays for the service on the spot (i.e.,
restaurant, store, etc.). If the service is subpar, we don’t go back to that
store or restaurant. The citizen doesn’t share the same choice when it comes to
public services. We all pay our taxes even when we are displeased with our
public services (at least I hope you do).
Private Sector Salaries
Private sector salaries tend to be more negotiable than in
the public sector. Public sector employment usually has a standard hiring
range, and there is little to no deviation. In most cases, private sector
employment has more potential for salary growth than the public sector. Private
enterprise has unlimited earning potential. Although high-ranking public
servants make well into six figures, it still doesn’t compare to CEOs in the
private sector that make millions per year.
Pros and Cons to Both
In summary, the public and private sector both have their
advantages and disadvantages. However, they both play a vital role in our
communities and our economy. If your goal is to be rich, I wouldn’t recommend
public employment. If you are a service-driven person, then the public sector
may be a good fit. Public servants provide the essential services we need every
day. The private sector fuels our economy through taxes in addition to
producing goods and services. In the end, both sides benefit from each other
and need one another to keep our economy moving in the right direction.