CTPF educators make an immeasurable impact on children: educating, 
nurturing, and helping them grow into productive citizens and future leaders. 
An educator’s impact extends far beyond the classroom – active and retired 
educators are also consumers, taxpayers, and voters – who live and work 
primarily in Chicago and surrounding communities. 
CTPF pension payments create a positive impact on the Illinois economy. Each 
year, CTPF calculates estimates of its members’ total economic impact and 
the jobs supported by payments to annuitants. CTPF has released its 2026 
Economic Impact Study, The Buck Stays Here. The report details the economic 
benefit pensions have on the City of Chicago and the State of Illinois. CTPF 
annuitants receive $1.6 billion in direct payments which generate $2.2 billion in 
economic impact for Illinois.
Payments to annuitants help support 12,055 jobs in Illinois, including 6,019 in the City of Chicago. The report includes a 
breakout of pensioners by legislative district and by Chicago Aldermanic Ward. The study used standard economic multipliers 
from the U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Economic Analysis to assess the economic impact of spending. 
2026 ECONOMIC IMPACT 
AN EDUCATOR’S IMPACT EXTENDS FAR BEYOND THE CLASSROOM  
Active and retired educators are also consumers, taxpayers, and voters – who live and work primarily in Chicago and 
surrounding communities. CTPF pension payments create a positive impact on the Illinois economy. 
View the full report for more Economic Impact 
facts. CTPF calculates estimates of total economic 
impact and jobs supported by multiplying benefit 
payments by total output multipliers supplied 
by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of 
Economic Analysis.
$1.1 BILLION 
in total economic impact
in Chicago
$775 MILLION
in direct pension payments made
to annuitants living in Chicago
RESULTS IN...
6,019
Jobs supported 
in Chicago
YOUR 
IMPACT
IN CHICAGO   
LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR 
NEIGHBORHOOD’S ECONOMIC IMPACT
CTPF offers individual information sheets by 
House, Senate district, and Chicago Ward. 
The full report and information sheets 
are available at: 
ctpf.org/economic-impact-statement
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