FY2023 data · Public Plans Database

Cook County Employees

Cook County Employees's complete funding picture: assets, unfunded liability, member counts, and investment returns over a 23-year span, as reported to the Public Plans Database (Boston College CRR) and cross-referenced with actuarial valuations.

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By · · Illinois · Municipal Plan · Data through FY2023

Funded Ratio: 0.0% (Critical) Cook County Employees funded ratio compared to national public pension benchmark. FUNDED RATIO 0.0% Critical Nat'l avg 75.49869791666667% 0% 60 70 80 100% Healthy > 80% · At-risk 70-80% · Critical < 60%
Cook County Employees funded ratio is 0.0 percent, classified as Critical. National public-pension benchmark is 75.49869791666667 percent.
Funded ratio
N/A
Health grade
FLowest reported funded-ratio band in this dataset
Market assets
$12.95B
Members
57,486

According to the Public Plans Database, compiled by the Boston College Center for Retirement Research, Cook County Employees is one of 197 public pension plans tracked nationwide. The plan card reports FY2023 valuation figures; this site’s database copy was last loaded in July 2026. See our methodology for the full source and update cadence.

Unfunded Liability

N/A

actuarial shortfall

Total Members

57,486

active + retired + vested

Participant Composition

Participants: 18.7K active, 20.5K retired, 0 separated Plan participant breakdown showing active workers, retirees, and separated-vested members. PARTICIPANT MIX 57.5K total members 33% 36% Active 18.7K Retired 20.5K Separated 0 Active-to-Retiree 0.91 · Mature / At Risk
Plan participant breakdown: 18.7K active workers, 20.5K retirees, 0 separated-vested members. Sustainability rating: Mature / At Risk.

The active-to-retiree ratio is a leading indicator of long-term plan sustainability, plans with more retirees than active contributors face mounting cash-flow pressure as benefit payments outpace incoming contributions.

Investment Policy Mix

Asset Allocation: 55% equity, 25% fixed income, 17% alternatives Cook County Employees investment policy mix as reported in its CAFR and actuarial valuation. ASSET ALLOCATION $13.0B market assets · CAFR / actuarial valuation 55% 25% 17% Equity 55.0% Fixed Inc. 25.0% Alternatives 17.0% Cash 3.0% Investment Stance: Growth-Tilted · Equity + Alts 72%
Cook County Employees asset allocation: 55% equity, 25% fixed income, 17% alternatives, 3% cash. Investment stance: Growth-Tilted.

Public pension plans report their asset allocation in their annual CAFR and actuarial valuation. Equity-heavy mixes capture market upside but introduce volatility; fixed-income tilts protect funded status during downturns at the cost of long-run return.

Historical Funded Ratio

Year Funded Ratio
2023 N/A
2022 N/A
2021 N/A
2020 N/A
2019 N/A
2018 N/A
2017 N/A
2016 N/A
2015 N/A
2014 N/A
2013 N/A
2012 N/A
2011 N/A
2010 N/A
2009 N/A
2008 N/A
2007 N/A
2006 N/A
2005 N/A
2004 N/A

What the Data Says About Cook County Employees

Cook County Employees reports a funded ratio of N/A as of fiscal year 2023, earning a financial health grade of F in the Public Plans Database. The plan holds $12.95B in market assets against an unfunded liability of N/A. As a Municipal plan operating under Illinois sponsorship, it covers 57,486 members (18,686 active contributors, 20,504 retirees drawing benefits).

Cook County Employees's funded ratio lands close to the middle of the national distribution.

For Illinois taxpayers and plan members, the N/A unfunded gap is the actuarial shortfall this plan must close over time.

Where this data comes from + how funding gaps get resolved

These figures come from the Public Plans Database, a collaboration between the Boston College Center for Retirement Research and NASRA that compiles them from each plan's Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports (CAFRs) and actuarial valuations. The relationship between contribution adequacy and investment performance determines whether an unfunded liability narrows or expands year over year, and the gap itself is typically closed through some combination of higher contributions, investment returns, or benefit modifications. See our methodology for how public-pension funding differs from ERISA-backed private plans, and our disclaimer below before acting on this data.

Membership

18,686
Active Members
20,504
Retirees
57,486
Total Members

Plan Details

Plan Type
Municipal
State
Illinois
Market Assets
$12.95B
Source: Public Plans Database (PPD)
Boston College CRR / NASRA

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Pension Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cook County Employees fully funded?

Cook County Employees has a funded ratio of N/A as of FY2023, earning a health grade of F. At 100%, reported actuarial assets equal reported accrued liabilities. Plans use different assumptions and valuation methods, so ratios should be read alongside the underlying actuarial valuation.

What happens if Cook County Employees runs out of money?

This profile is not a legal or retirement-benefit assessment. For a decision affecting Cook County Employees, consult the plan administrator, governing documents, and a qualified professional.

What does a funded ratio of N/A mean?

A funded ratio of N/A means that Cook County Employees currently has assets equal to N/A of its projected benefit obligations. The unfunded liability, the gap between assets and liabilities, stands at N/A. This level of underfunding typically requires corrective action such as increased contributions or benefit restructuring.

How does Cook County Employees compare to other public pensions?

Cook County Employees is a Municipal plan in Illinois serving 57,486 members. Nationally, the average funded ratio for public pension plans tracked by the Public Plans Database is approximately 75.5%. Cook County Employees's funded ratio of N/A places it below the national average, indicating elevated fiscal pressure.

How many members does Cook County Employees have?

Cook County Employees covers 57,486 total members, including 18,686 active employees and 20,504 retirees currently receiving benefits. The ratio of active members to retirees is a key indicator of plan sustainability, when the number of retirees grows relative to active contributors, funding pressure increases.

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Data sourced from official Public Plans Database and actuarial valuations from federal and state pension systems. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainPension

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the Public Plans Database (PPD). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Data sources used on this page
  • Public Plans Database (PPD) - funded ratios, assets, liabilities, and member counts for US state and local public pension plans, maintained by the Boston College Center for Retirement Research with MissionSquare Research Institute and NASRA. publicplansdata.org
  • NASRA - National Association of State Retirement Administrators public-pension actuarial and policy references. nasra.org

Every figure on PlainPension is rendered directly from the Public Plans Database (Boston College Center for Retirement Research), no number is typed in by an editor. This page aggregates this plan's funded ratio, unfunded liability, and multi-year financial history, live from the dataset. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.