Pensionomics: Measuring the Impact of State and Local Pension Plans
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. Full Report here. Report PowerPoint here.State Fact Sheets/Maphere. State Press Releaseshere.
“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.
Evolution and Growth: How Public Pension Plans Have Diversified Their Investments Amid Changing Markets
A report from the National Institute on Retirement Security (NIRS) and Aon examines the changes public pension plan investing has undergone throughout the twenty-first century.
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.
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.
