Fairfax, VA, USA. Shifting demographics present challenges for public workforces. Many Baby Boomers have been delaying their retirements because of the economy, but retirement incentive programs and cuts to benefits may be changing that.

As horrible as the ongoing economic slump has been for state governments, it brought with it at least one positive side effect: putting off, if only temporarily, a long-feared brain drain caused by large numbers of veteran state workers retiring. But that may be finally ending.