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Workplace pension participation trends

ended 31. July 2025

Around 9-in-10 (89%) of eligible employees in Great Britain were saving into a workplace pension in 2024, continuing the trend of previous years, with 21.7 million eligible employees saving, according to a Department for Work & Pensions report published this morning. This is an increase of 0.8 million more eligible employees saving and a 1ppt increase in the pension participation rate compared to 2023.

The overall workplace pension participation rate of all employees in Great Britain continued to be around 8-in-10 (82%) in 2024, with 23.3 million employees saving. This is 0.9 million greater number of employees saving compared to 2023.

The increase in the number of employees saving is more substantial than previous years. This can be attributed to an increase in the number of employees brought into AEeligibility, as the earnings trigger (currently £10,000) has remained frozen in recent years and the changes made by ONS to the ASHE data now estimate a greater number of higher earners who are more likely to be saving into a workplace pension.

Only around 59% of eligible employees working for a micro employer (those with less than 5 employees) in the private sector are saving into a workplace pension.

Have a read of the report and any insights and thoughts, send them across ASAP.

2 responses from the Newspage community

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Editor
Riz Malik
Independent Financial Adviser at R3 Wealth
Workplace pension participation is encouraging, but many schemes were set up quickly with basic options. Employees should push for regular reviews to make sure fund choices remain competitive and charges are fair. A little scrutiny now can make a big difference to future returns.
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Editor
Scott Gallacher
Director at Rowley Turton
Auto-enrolment remains a quiet success story, with nearly 90% of eligible employees now saving into a pension. But beneath the headlines, warning signs are flashing. Participation among workers at the smallest employers lags at just 59% — often lower-paid, part-time, or more vulnerable workers who can least afford to miss out.

The government must now shift its focus from simply boosting participation to ensuring pension adequacy. The current minimum contributions of 8% of qualifying earnings are far too low, especially for part-time workers — disproportionately women and older employees — who are penalised by the current system. With an ageing population and the state pension age rising, we must strengthen the system now, or risk condemning millions to a poor retirement.