what do teachers think about their jobs and pensions?
TRANSCRIPT
To understand how teachers feel about their jobs and benefits, the National Institute on Retirement Security conducted a national poll to gain deep insight into their views at a time when state and local governments are struggling to recruit and retain employees. This fact sheet provides a snapshot of key highlights of the research. More information is available in the full report, State and Local Employee Views on Their Jobs, Pay and Benefits, issued in November 2019 and available at www.nirsonline.org.
what do teachers think about their jobs and pensions?
teachers are committed to public service despite the fact that their jobs are stressful.
55%40%
5%
95% of teachers say they are committed to serving the public.
Strongly Agree
Somewhat Agree
Somewhat Disagree
Strongly Disagree
Strongly Agree
Somewhat Agree
Somewhat Disagree
Strongly Disagree
95%Agree
<0.5%
46%
38%
12%
84% of teachers say their jobs are stressful.
Strongly Agree
Somewhat Agree
Somewhat Disagree
Strongly Disagree
Strongly Agree
Somewhat Agree
Somewhat Disagree
Strongly Disagree
84%Agree
4%
teachers have highly favorable views on their pensions and say pensions incentivize a long career in public service.
55%39%
6%
94% of teachers have favorable views of defined benefit pensions.
Very Favorable
Somewhat Favorable
Somewhat Unfavorable
Very Favorable
Somewhat Favorable
Somewhat Unfavorable
Very Unfavorable Very Unfavorable
94%Favorable
1%
58%33%
7%
91% of teachers say pensions incentivize publicworkers to have long public service careers.
Strongly Agree
Somewhat Agree
Somewhat Disagree
Strongly Disagree
Strongly Agree
Somewhat Agree
Somewhat Disagree
Strongly Disagree
91%Agree
1%
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educators agree that their pension is a major reason they chose their job and it is a major reason they stay.
Teachers overwhelmingly agree that a pension benefitis a major reason they chose a public sector job.
All State &Local Employees
Teachers
37% 35% 21% 7%
36% 35% 19% 10%
86% of teachers agree that a pension benefit is amajor reason why they stay in their job.
All State &Local Employees
Teachers
49% 37% 10%
50% 36% 10%
Strongly Agree Somewhat Agree Somewhat Disagree Strongly Disagree
4%
4%
90%
10%
90% of teachers say they plan to stay with their current employer until theyare eligible for retirement or canno longer work.
Yes
No90%
Yes
educators overwhelmingly agree that eliminating pensions would harm education.
22%
35%
37%
6%
More than half of teachers say switching out of a pension wouldmake them more likelyto leave their job.
Strongly Agree
Somewhat Agree
Somewhat Disagree
Strongly Disagree
Strongly Agree
Somewhat Agree
Somewhat Disagree
Strongly Disagree
57%Agree
38%
37%
22%
75% of teachers saythey would be morelikely to leave their jobif their pension were cut.
75%Agree
67%
25%
6%
92% of teachers say eliminating pensions forthe public workforce wouldweaken the U.S. education system.
92%Agree
3% 1%
teachers agree that pensions are an effective tool for recruiting and retaining public employees.
Teachers agree that offering a pension is an effectiveway for an employer to recruit new public employees.
Teachers 60% 34% 6%
All State &Local Employees
56% 38% 6%
Yes, Very Effective Yes, Somewhat Effective No, Not Effective
70%
26%
96% of teachers say offering a pension isan effective tool for retaining employees.
Yes, Very Effective
Yes, Somewhat Effective
No, Not Effective96%E�ective
4%