Virginia Retirement System (VRS) vs New Jersey Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)
Side-by-side pension health comparison from DOL and public plan data
Verdict
Virginia Retirement System (VRS) has a stronger Pension Health Score of 70/100 (B) compared to New Jersey Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) at 54/100 (C). Funding ratios differ by 22.8 percentage points (75.1% vs 52.3%). Virginia Retirement System (VRS) covers 740,000 participants.
| Metric | Virginia Retirement System (VRS) | New Jersey Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) |
|---|---|---|
| Health Score Composite of funding ratio, trend, and PBGC risk | 70/100 (B)* | 54/100 (C) |
| Funding Ratio Assets as % of liabilities (100%+ is fully funded) | 75.1%* | 52.3% |
| Total Assets | $87.0B | $34.0B |
| Total Liabilities | $115.8B | $65.0B* |
| Unfunded Liability | $28.8B* | $31.0B |
| Participants | 740,000 | 425,000 |
| 1-Year Investment Return | 6.0%* | 5.1% |
| Plan Type | public | public |
| PBGC Risk Level | moderate | high |
| Sponsor | State of Virginia | State of New Jersey |
Virginia Retirement System (VRS) has a stronger Pension Health Score of 70/100 (B) compared to New Jersey Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) at 54/100 (C). Funding ratios differ by 22.8 percentage points (75.1% vs 52.3%). Virginia Retirement System (VRS) covers 740,000 participants.