WALL STREET JOURNAL: Public Employees Rush To Retire. “The forces driving the retirements, government officials say, can’t be helped. Many states have record budget gaps due to decreases in tax collections and pension obligations they can’t meet. They have responded with layoffs and furloughs, and lately have been pushing to reduce the amount of money they promise future retirees. The moves are motivating many public employees to retire sooner than expected, as public employees take the opposite approach of many workers who have put off retirement to recoup personal wealth lost during the recession.”