On Thursday I called attention to the question of how many teachers returned to work this fall. The answer seems to be: Not that many.

FLOYD NORRIS

Notions on high and low finance.

According to the monthly labor report issued today, the number of education employees in state and local governments rose by 1.12 million in September, compared to 1.16 million last September. That is the smallest increase since 2003. It is 12 percent below the peak gain, registered in 2006. (These figures are, of course, before seasonal adjustment.)

The number may be revised next month, of course, and since the figures are for the week after Labor Day, there are a few schools that were not back in session yet. There are typically small gains in October as well.

But make no mistake: School budgets are hurting. This ought to sound alarm bells in Washington.

Article source: http://feeds.nytimes.com/click.phdo?i=9f269ab13a917455d39dc069e32ea4cf