Reports and Surveys | July 24, 2026

As PPA Turns 20, a Retrospective on Zone-Status Survey Data

Since the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (PPA) became law 20 years ago, multiemployer pension plans have moved through a full cycle of strength, stress and recovery.

Our 2026 Survey of Plans’ Zone Status presents actual data through December 31, 2025, on calendar-year plans (not estimates or projections) based on PPA-required certifications that were filed by March 31, 2026. As a group, the plans in the survey had over $202 billion in assets and provided benefits to just over 2.7 million participants and beneficiaries as of December 31, 2025.

To provide perspective on changes over the long term, the survey also includes data from 19 years of zone-status certifications.

Get the survey to see:

The resurgence of green-zone plans
Decline of remaining red-zone plans, after the impact of the American Rescue Plan Act
Changes in the average funded level since 2008
More plans above 100 percent funded today compared to 2008
The change in zone status over time for plans in the construction, entertainment manufacturing, retail and food, services and transportation industries

The report also looks ahead at lessons for the next 20 years.

Get the Survey Report

As PPA Turns 20 a Retrospective on Zone-Status Survey Data

Trustees: Use Segal’s latest multiemployer pension plan survey for benchmarking and insights about plan management

For trustees of multiemployer pension funds, there’s no greater challenge than navigating your plan through volatile periods. Knowing the details of how similarly situated plans have performed can provide a benchmark for your own plan’s performance.

The survey data, combined with the insight we’ve developed from decades of working with multiemployer pension plans, makes this annual report an invaluable tool for trustees. A plan’s direction and ability to withstand adverse experience is as important as its current zone status.

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We understand multiemployer plans, having worked with hundreds of them for decades. That experience helps us provide innovative, cost-effective solutions to the challenges funds face. Our unbiased, objective advice allows funds to make decisions in the broader context of other multiemployer plans. Moreover, our ability to aggregate multiemployer data from our extensive client base enables us to determine trends and offer timely advice on emerging developments.

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This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax or investment advice. You are encouraged to discuss the issues raised here with your legal, tax and other advisors before determining how the issues apply to your specific situations.