San Francisco's Public Sector and Retiree Demographics Account for Approximately 20% of Population, Data Shows

San Francisco's demographic composition, particularly concerning its public sector workforce, retirees, and residents receiving public assistance, has recently become a subject of public discussion following a social media post. A tweet from "SaveSF 🇺🇸" asserted that "SF is now 50% retirees + welfare ppl + city/nonprofit workers," claiming it "Should be 25%." However, available data from official city reports and demographic analyses present a different picture regarding these population segments.

According to the San Francisco City and County Employees' Retirement System (SFERS) Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2024, the city's active workforce within the City and County of San Francisco (CCSF) totals 35,418 employees. The same report indicates 32,654 retired members receiving benefits. These figures represent individuals actively employed by the city or those who have concluded their public service, often drawing pensions.

The non-profit sector also contributes significantly to the city's employment landscape. An April 2023 report from the San Francisco Controller's Office revealed that over 600 non-profit organizations contract with the City, collectively employing more than 13,200 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff. These individuals are part of the city's employed population, providing essential services.

Regarding residents receiving public assistance, often broadly termed "welfare," data from DataUSA for 2023 indicates that San Francisco has a poverty rate of 10.6%. With a total population of approximately 836,321 in 2023, this translates to about 88,649 individuals living below the poverty line. While some overlap may exist between these categories (e.g., low-income retirees), treating them as distinct groups for the purpose of assessing the tweet's claim reveals a combined total of approximately 169,927 individuals across these categories.

This sum represents roughly 20.3% of San Francisco's total population. This factual data stands in contrast to the 50% figure suggested in the social media post. The figures highlight the actual scale of these demographic groups within the city's overall population, offering an objective perspective on the composition of San Francisco's workforce, retiree community, and those in need of public assistance.