Explore the Trends Shaping Public Sector Participant Engagement

NAGDCA’s new 2026 Participant Engagement and Communications Trend Report takes a look at how participant communications have evolved over the past six years—and where they’re headed next.

Based on responses from 75 NAGDCA member entities representing more than 120 governmental defined contribution plans, the report explores the trends shaping participant engagement today, including:

  1. Broader communication strategies that go beyond enrollment and savings to address retirement readiness, financial wellness, cybersecurity, and more.
  2. The growing role of digital engagement, with plans exploring more personalized and interactive approaches.
  3. More data-driven measurement, as plans increasingly evaluate communications based on participant engagement and behavioral outcomes.
  4. Emerging use of AI, with nearly two-thirds of responding plans either using, piloting, or considering AI tools for participant communications and engagement.
  5. The impact of plan size and structure, including differences in how larger and multiple-employer plans communicate, measure effectiveness, and personalize engagement.

The report also compares 2026 findings with NAGDCA’s 2020 survey, offering a look at how participant engagement has changed over time.

Explore the full report to see how your plan’s approach compares—and what trends may shape participant engagement in the years ahead.