ST. LOUIS — BJC Health System is phasing out its pension plan, barring new participants since the start of July.

The nonprofit health system in a statement Thursday said current participants will be able to contribute and accrue benefits until 2030, when the plan will be frozen.

Under a pension freeze, employees keep the benefits they have earned, but do not receive additional credit for years of service or future pay raises, resulting in smaller retirement checks.

BJC's move is the latest in a long-term trend in which employers have been moving away from pensions and toward 401(k) plans, which shift more responsibility to employees to fund their own retirements.

About 60% of workers had defined-benefit pension plans in 1989. That number fell to 20% by 2022, according to a report from

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