Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. HOMEPAGE

CHART OF THE DAY: The Military: Another Spiraling Government Jobs Program

The government spends billions of dollars more on it every year, and per person costs are increasing even faster. The results are mixed, but there's no slowing down.

chart of the day, military employees

No, it's not health care or social security. It's defense.

The White House has requested $708 billion for fiscal year 2011 and defense spending is scheduled to increase each year, even as wars in Iraq in Afghanistan deescalate. Of course, bravely serving in the military or working under the Department of Defense isn't a handout, but it's another massive sector of the economy that's keeping tons of folks employed who might otherwise be home looking for work.

Advertisement
Close icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. It indicates a way to close an interaction, or dismiss a notification.

Jump to

  1. Main content
  2. Search
  3. Account