Skip to Content

Pensionomics: Measuring the Impact of State and Local Pension Plans

Sep 1, 2009

Paying credit card for purchases

A new national economic impact study finds that the benefits provided by state and local government pension plans have a significant economic footprint:  2.5 million American jobs and $358 billion in economic impact.

The analysis finds that the benefits provided by state and local government pension plans have a sizable impact that ripples through every state and industry across the nation.  FulReporhere.   Report PowerPoint here.State Fact Sheets/Map here.  State Press Releases here.

Pensionomics: Measuring the Economic Impact of State and Local Pension Plans,” finds that expenditures made from state & local pension benefits for fiscal year 2005-2006:

  • Had a total economic impact of more than $358 billion.
  • Supported more than 2.5 million American jobs that paid more than $92 billion in total compensation to American workers.
  • Supported more than $57 billion in annual federal, state, local tax revenue.
  • Had large multiplier effects. Each taxpayer dollar invested in state and local pensions supported $11.45 in total economic activity, while each dollar paid out in benefits supported $2.36 in economic activity.
  • Had the largest impact on the manufacturing, health care, finance, retail trade, and accommodation and food service sectors.
  • Paid $151.7 billion in pension benefits to 7.3 million retirees and beneficiaries.

The report also analyzes the economic impact of public pensions in all 50 states.

Related Research and Analysis

Pensionomics 2025: Measuring the Economic Impact of Defined Benefit Pension Expenditures
Close-up on a customer making a contactless payment at the supermarket

Pensionomics 2025: Measuring the Economic Impact of Defined Benefit Pension Expenditures

Pensionomics 2025: Measuring the Economic Impact of Defined Benefit Pension Expenditures finds pending powered by U.S. private and public sector defined benefit pensions contributed significantly to the economy. In 2022, retiree spending of public and private sector pension benefits generated $1.5 trillion in total economic output, supporting 7.1 million jobs across the nation.

Jan 5, 2025

Public Retirement System State Fact Sheets
A map of the contiguous 48 U.S. states
  • Fact Sheets
  • Pensions
  • Public Retirement System State Fact Sheets

    In partnership with AARP and NRTA, NIRS has developed a series of state-by-state infographic fact sheets regarding the public employee and teacher retirement systems across the country. These fact sheets present a snapshot of these retirement systems along with key data from NIRS research and other sources.

    Jan 1, 2025

    What Do Americans Think About Pensions For Public Employees?
    Elementary students working with teacher in library
  • Infographic
  • Pensions
  • What Do Americans Think About Pensions For Public Employees?

    A research infographic from the National Institute on Retirement Security (NIRS) finds strong support among Americans for retirement benefits provided to state and local government employees. “What Do Americans Think About Pensions For Public Employees? finds 86 percent of Americans say all workers, not just those employed by state and local governments, should have a […]

    Oct 29, 2024