The nation's 89,526 state and local governments employed 16.6 million full-time equivalent employees in 2009, statistically unchanged from 2008, according to government employment data released by the U.S. Census Bureau.

However, the number state and local government FTEs in Washington increased nearly 4 percent, rising from 349,729 during 2008 to 362,997 last year.

Local governments nationwide accounted for 12.2 million full-time equivalent employees and state governments had 4.4 million. (Local governments include counties, cities, townships, special districts and school districts.)

In Washington, local governments had 237,574 FTEs during 2009, an increase of 4.57 percent from 227,188 in 2008. State government FTEs increased 2.35 percent, from 122,541 during 2008 to 125,432 last year.

Nationwide, most full-time equivalent state and local employees worked in education (8.9 million), hospitals (1 million), police protection (963,139) and corrections (759,513).