In a Forbes column, NIRS Executive Director Dan Doonan writes that one of the most immediate challenges resulting from changing demographics is the strain on government-sponsored pension and healthcare programs.
As the elderly population grows, demands on social safety nets increase. With this new strain on resources, governments and municipalities must allocate a larger share of their budgets to support retirees, potentially diverting resources from other essential services for younger generations like education, infrastructure, and healthcare. Getting ahead of these trends will help ensure the long-term viability of these vital programs and manage costs for future generations.
Pensions Support a Stable, Experienced Public-Sector Workforce
Public pensions help government employers retain experienced career workers, reducing costly turnover and supporting the reliable delivery of essential public services, according to a report, Workforce Turnover and Retention in the Public Sector: Insights from Public Pension Plans. The research finds that while employee departures are concentrated in the first five years of service, retention is strong among workers who remain beyond that point.