But Preckwinkle faces the same public skepticism as Stroger when it comes to the need for so many employees in county government, even if she has reduced the workforce by nearly 10 percent. In September, the number of employees stood at less than 21,800, compared to more than 23,700 when Stroger left office, according to payroll records kept by the Tribune that reflect actual numbers of people working for the county as opposed to positions in the budget.