Capstone | Projected Impact of Mississippi’s Tier 5 Plan on Public Sector Recruitment and Retention: Lessons from State Transitions
- Zakiya Summers
- May 8
- 1 min read
Jackson State University
Master of Public Policy Administration
Dr. Andre L. Hines, Professor
Dr. Ivan Ozherelev, Advisor
PPAD 595: Capstone
April 28, 2025
Abstract
Mississippi’s Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) has undergone significant transformation since its inception, evolving from a basic retirement plan for teachers into a complex, statewide system serving diverse public sectors. The transformation reflects changes in public workforce needs, fiscal sustainability concerns, and political dynamics. Facing long-term sustainability concerns, the PERS Board endorsed a hybrid retirement plan, Tier 5, for new hires that was later adopted by the Mississippi State Legislature inside of House Bill 1 during the 2025 Session. This paper examines the rationale for the reform, the structure of the new hybrid pension model, and the potential implications for public sector workforce recruitment and retention and system solvency. Research explores the historical development of PERS, the national context of hybrid plans, lessons learned from other states, and areas of improvement using a public policy framework through both historical and theoretical lenses, culminating in a critical discussion of hybrid pension models. Ultimately, Mississippi’s future public workforce strength and fiscal health will depend not just on pension reform, but on the state’s willingness to invest in its people, its policies, and its promise to serve.
