There are an estimated 15.1 million full-time and 4.7 million part-time employees working in state and local governments in the U.S., according to the 2020 Annual Survey of Public Employment and Payroll, the most recent statistics available from the U.S. Census Bureau. 

Here are some of the responses from Texas: 
 

Add your reason using the #IServeBecause and tag us using #TEXPERS202 to Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn. We'll add your comment to our blog post and feature it in an upcoming publication of TEXPERS Pension Observer, our association's membership magazine. 

"We honor our civil servants at all levels of government this week," says Art Alfaro, executive director of the Texas Association of Public Employee Retirement Systems. "We owe our nation's greatness to our public employees who shield our communities, educate our young people, fix our roads, and help us recover after disasters. We salute them." 

Public Service Recognition Week

Since 1985, the first week of May has been designated Public Service Recognition Week, a time to celebrate and commemorate hardworking civil servants. On April 29, President Joe Biden reissued a proclamation dedicating May 1-7, 2022, as Public Service Recognition Week, recognizing America's public employees as "the lifeblood of" the nation's democracy.

"Every day, millions of public workers at all levels of government do extraordinary things to make our lives better and our country stronger," Biden says in his proclamation. "During Public Service Recognition Week, we honor the dedicated Federal, State, Tribal, and local public servants who embody the spirit of service and endless possibilities that define America."

As part of his proclamation, the president lauds public employees for their dedication throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, including their involvement in vaccine campaigns, small business relief efforts, and natural disaster recovery efforts. 

There are an estimated 15.1 million full-time and 4.7 million part-time employees working in state and local governments in the U.S., according to the 2020 Annual Survey of Public Employment and Payroll, the most recent statistics available from the U.S. Census Bureau. 

Click here for additional coverage from TEXPERS' friends at the National Public Pension Coalition.