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Category: In the News

  • In the NewsAugust 29, 2010

    Texas Public Sector Pay 17% Lower than Private

    April 29, 2010 — The Dallas Morning News reports on the new study, “Out of Balance?” that finds Texas’ public sector workers earn 17 percent less than private employees with comparable experience and education. The gap was larger than it was nationally or in six other large states studied. Researchers didn’t pinpoint why pay of state and local […]

  • In the NewsAugust 28, 2010

    State & Local Workers Underpaid

    April 28, 2010 —  The Des Moines Register reports on the new study, “Out of Balance?” that finds wages of state and local government employees nationally are lower than those for private-sector employees with comparable education and work experience. State workers typically earn 11 percent less and local workers 12 percent less, according a study commissioned by […]

  • In the NewsAugust 2, 2010

    Pensions Are Economically Efficient

    August 2, 2010 — The Wall Street Journal has published the National Institute on Retirement Security’s letter to the editor regarding the economic efficiencies of defined benefit pension plans and the implications of a pension freeze. NIRS director of programs Ilana Boivie writes that any actuary or economist can explain that, dollar for dollar, a group pension […]

  • In the NewsJuly 1, 2010

    Pensions Are The Real Deal

    July 2010 —  The Journal of Pension Benefits has published a NIRS analysis of why defined benefit pensions have proven to be a durable feature of compensation for state and local governments. As we look across the nation, we see governments making a number of changes to their retirement plans—increasing contributions, adjusting retirement ages, and modifying benefit […]

  • In the NewsJune 1, 2010

    How High Can Retirement Go?

    June 1, 2010 —  NIRS writes in The New York TimesRoom for Debate that longer lives have become an economic bogeyman.  A closer look at the data reveals not only can we afford retirement, we can afford more of it. In fact, improvements in longevity are very gradual and quite predictable. Over the past half-century, life […]

  • In the NewsApril 29, 2010

    Public Workers Earn Less Than Private Ones

    April 29, 2010 — The Detroit Free Press reports on the new study, “Out of Balance?” that finds Michigan public employees are paid, on average, less than private-sector employees with comparable skills and educational levels. Public employees nationwide are paid about 12% less than their private-sector counterparts. That has been a trend for 20 years, according to […]

  • In the NewsApril 29, 2010

    Comp for Public Employees Lagging

    April 29, 2010 — Employee Benefit News reports that although benefits comprise a slightly larger share of compensation for public-sector employees, they still earn less than their private-sector counterparts even after accounting for the value of retirement plans, health care and other benefits. On average, total compensation, which includes employee benefits, is 6.8% lower for state employees […]

  • In the NewsApril 29, 2010

    Study: Public employees better-educated, more skilled, earn less

    April 29, 2010 — The Times Union asks: are workers in the public sector really overpaid and too comfy for their own good? According to a new study from the Center for State and Local Government Excellence and National Institute on Retirement Security, not really. Analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data showed that state and local […]

  • In the NewsApril 28, 2010

    Who Makes More..Public or Private?

    April 28, 2010 —  CBS reports on the new study, “Out of Balance?” that finds when you adjust for education and other job characteristics, public workers make less than private sector counterparts. The typical state worker makes 11 percent less than someone in the private sector, while a local government employee makes 12 percent less, according to […]