New report examines demographic influences and vulnerable populations in the U.S. workforce
Almost half of U.S. workers (49 percent) expect their primary source of retirement income to come from self-funded savings such as 401(k)s, 403(b)s, IRAs, and other savings and investments. However, the total household retirement savings among workers is only $67,000 (estimated median), according to Emerging From the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Compendium About U.S. Workers’ Retirement Outlook (“Compendium”), a comprehensive study released today by nonprofit Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies (TCRS) in collaboration with Transamerica Institute.
“Amid concerns about Social Security, the disappearance of traditional defined benefit pensions, and intensifying expectations that workers self-fund a greater portion of their retirement income, many workers are inadequately saving and are at risk of not achieving a financially secure retirement,” said Catherine Collinson, CEO and president of Transamerica Institute and TCRS. “Enhancing retirement security involves addressing demographic disparities, removing structural barriers, and future-proofing the system so everyone can retire with dignity.”
As part of TCRS’ 22nd Annual Retirement Survey of Workers, the Compendium is based on a survey of employed workers at for-profit companies conducted in late 2021. It offers more than 35 key retirement indicators by household income, employment status (full-time, part-time), level of educational attainment, urbanicity, caregiver status, LGBTQ+ status, and race/ethnicity.
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“Lower-income workers have less money and fewer opportunities to save for retirement in the workplace,” said Collinson. Sixty-seven percent of workers with a household income (HHI) of less than $50,000 feel they do not have enough income to save for retirement.
Only 60 percent of workers with an HHI of less than $50,000 are offered a 401(k) or similar plan by their employer, and 58 percent of them participate. In comparison, 74 percent of workers with an HHI of $50,000 to $99,999 are offered a plan, and 76 percent participate, while 78 percent of workers with an HHI of $100,000+ are offered a plan, and 85 percent participate.
Retirement savings increase dramatically with household income. Workers with an HHI of less than $50,000 have saved just $3,000 in total household retirement accounts while workers with an HHI of $50,000 to $99,000 have saved $42,000, and those with an HHI of $100,000+ have saved $172,000 (estimated medians).
Forty-eight percent of workers with an HHI of less than $50,000 expect to retire at age 70 or older or do not plan to retire. Thirty-five percent expect Social Security to be their primary source of retirement income.
The Saver’s Credit is a tax credit to incentivize savings among low- to moderate-income workers who save for retirement in a 401(k) or similar plan or IRA. Unfortunately, fewer than half of workers who may meet the income eligibility requirements are aware of it.
“With lower pay and less access to employer-sponsored benefits, part-time workers are at a disadvantage in saving for retirement, compared with full-time workers,” said Collinson. Only 19 percent of part-time workers “strongly” agree they are building a large enough retirement nest egg.
Slightly more than half of part-time workers (51 percent) are offered a 401(k) or similar plan by their employer, and 59 percent of them participate. In comparison, 77 percent of full-time workers are offered a plan, and 80 percent of them participate.
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Part-time workers have saved just $29,000 in total household retirement accounts, while full-time workers have saved $74,000 (estimated medians).
Forty-eight percent of part-time workers expect to retire at age 70 or older or do not plan to retire. Twenty-nine percent expect Social Security to be their primary source of retirement income.
“Educational attainment brings career opportunities, higher pay, and better employer benefits which translate to improved retirement confidence,” said Collinson. Among those age 25 and older, workers with a college degree are twice as likely as those without a degree to be “very” confident in their ability to fully retire with a comfortable lifestyle (35 percent, 17 percent, respectively).
Eighty-two percent of workers with a college degree are offered a 401(k) or similar plan by their employer, and 87 percent of them participate. In comparison, only 67 percent of workers without a college degree are offered a plan, and just 74 percent participate.
Workers without a college degree have saved $32,000 in total household retirement accounts, which is dramatically less than the $170,000 saved by workers with a college degree (estimated medians).
Forty-two percent of workers without a college degree expect to retire at age 70 or older or do not plan to retire. Thirty-two percent expect Social Security to be their primary source of retirement income.
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