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Government

Icon of balanced scalesStability still matters
Government workers prioritize benefits that deliver day-to-day stability

Predictability, paid leave, health coverage and flexibility remain powerful retention drivers:

  • 60% say job stability is one of the top reasons they stay
  • 49% point to paid leave benefits as a major factor
Most influential factors in employees’ decisions to continue working in government:
Job stability and predictable employment
60%
Paid leave and holiday allowances
49%
Work-life balance or flexible hours
42%
Comprehensive health coverage
42%
Generous pension or retirement plan
23%
Opportunities for professional development or training
22%
Note: respondents could select up to three options. Only top six results shown.Source: Economist Enterprise 2025 Benefits 2.0 survey
Icon of a manHigh confidence, low reassessment
Government workers feel confident navigating benefits, but revisit decisions less frequently

77% feel confident comparing benefit options during open enrollment.

But only 28% actively review or change retirement choices after making initial decisions.

Percentage of workers who:
GovernmentOther industries
77%
70%
Feel confident comparing benefit options
75%
71%
Understand available options for retirement planning
28%
37%
Actively review and adjust retirement plan or contributions
Source: Economist Enterprise 2025 Benefits 2.0 survey
Icon of a man with 3 checkboxes beside hiimMaintaining stability under pressure
As benefits become more complex, workers value personalized support tools

Retirement policy changes, rising healthcare costs and administrative strain are putting pressure on historically stable public-sector benefits.

Workers want new tools to help benefits adapt. Their top picks include:

  • Automatically updating dashboards (38%)
  • Real-time cost estimates (38%)
What would have the greatest impact on how benefits adapt to your personal life stage or needs?
A dashboard that automatically updates as circumstances change
38%
Real-time cost estimates tailored to expected benefit usage
38%
Guided support during benefit-heavy life transitions
34%
Personalized recommendations based on people like you
34%
Insights on improving long-term financial or health outcomes
30%
Alerts when you’re missing out on underused benefits
26%
Note: respondents could select up to three options. Only top six results shown.Source: Economist Enterprise 2025 Benefits 2.0 survey
2026 findings
Article - 2026Stable benefits, shifting pressures
Data highlight - 2026Shorter retirement delays, but not for all
Data highlight - 2026What attracts workers to government jobs
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