How Public Pension HR Leaders Can Navigate Today's Workforce Challenges

By: Hank Kim, CEO, NCPERS

After several years of labor shortages, public pension employers are entering a different workforce environment. Recruitment and retention pressures have eased, but new challenges are emerging. Flexible and remote work arrangements have become the norm, while salaries struggle to keep pace with inflation. Labor markets are softening, while uncertainty lies ahead as AI stands to transform many roles, making it more important than ever to make data-driven decisions about the workforce.

In times of rapid change, assumptions can become expensive. Organizations need reliable data to determine whether compensation remains competitive, which positions are becoming harder to recruit, and where workforce investments will deliver the greatest value.

That’s why benchmarking tools such as the Public Pension Compensation Survey have become increasingly important. Conducted annually by NCPERS and CBIZ, the 2026 survey had record participation from 173 public pension systems that collectively oversee $6.6 trillion in assets and employ nearly 21,000 professionals. The soon-to-be-released report and accompanying dashboard will offer one of the most comprehensive pictures available of today’s public pension workforce, so be sure to register for our September 28 webinar for a first look at the latest trends.

Public pension systems dedicate enormous attention to investment strategy, risk management, and operational efficiency. Yet their ability to execute all three depends on attracting, developing, and retaining talented people. Workforce planning deserves the same analytical rigor that pension leaders bring to investment decisions.

As pension leaders grapple with these issues, opportunities for peer learning are increasingly valuable. NCPERS Public Pension HR Summit and Pension Fund Roundtables provide venues for professionals to share strategies, discuss emerging challenges, and learn from colleagues.

In just a few weeks, we look forward to bringing together HR professionals and senior leaders of the public pension community for NCPERS Public Pension HR Summit. Held September 23–25 in Phoenix, attendees will gain practical strategies, meaningful connections, and the confidence that comes from learning alongside peers who understand the unique challenges facing our industry.

Expert-led sessions cover the most pressing issues impacting public pensions, from AI to employee engagement strategies to succession planning, while breakout “hot topics” conversations allow HR professionals to share how they’re approaching key challenges while strengthening their professional networks. View the agenda for a full look at this year’s program, and register here to reserve your spot.

The workforce challenges confronting public pensions today are different from those of just a few years ago, and they will continue to evolve. Success will depend not only on competitive compensation, but on thoughtful workforce planning, professional development, organizational flexibility, and a willingness to adapt. The good news is that pension leaders do not have to navigate those changes blindly or alone. With stronger benchmarking data and opportunities to learn from peers, they can make better decisions about the people who ultimately make their organizations successful.

Through NCPERS’ Public Pension HR Summit, compensation research, and peer networks, we are committed to helping plan professionals navigate today’s workforce challenges and prepare for what’s next. I hope you’ll join us in Phoenix later this month.