Pension Inquiry Gap: Over a Third of Job Movers Fail to Ask About Schemes
A significant survey has uncovered that more than a third of individuals who commenced new employment within the past five years neglected to inquire about their prospective employer's pension scheme at any stage of the hiring process. The research, conducted by savings and investments firm M&G, indicates a troubling disconnect between what workers value and what they feel empowered to discuss during job applications.
Survey Details and Key Findings
M&G commissioned Opinium to survey 2,000 workers across the United Kingdom in September 2025. The findings reveal that 36 percent of those who started a new job in the previous five years did not ask about the pension scheme during hiring. Approximately one-fifth of respondents waited until receiving a job offer to pose the question, while 16 percent delayed until after accepting the role. An additional 12 percent only raised the topic at their final interview.
Despite this reluctance to inquire, workplace pensions emerged as the third most critical factor when evaluating benefits that influence job acceptance. Salary was ranked as the most important, with flexible working options securing second place. This disparity suggests a gap between employee priorities and their confidence in addressing them during recruitment.
Additional Research on Pension Management
Separate research conducted by M&G and the Social Market Foundation, also via Opinium among 3,000 individuals, highlights broader challenges in pension administration. The study found that 40 percent of full-time workers are unaware of their employer's contribution rates, 43 percent have never adjusted their own contributions, and 25 percent have lost track of previous pension pots.
Kerrigan Procter, Managing Director of Corporate Pension Solutions at M&G, emphasised the importance of pension scrutiny during job applications. "When applying for a job, checking the pension scheme on offer is essential," Procter stated. "Too many people are missing out because they don't ask, or the information isn't readily available."
Recommendations for Employers and Employees
Procter advocated for greater transparency from employers, suggesting that pension details should be clearly and upfrontly included in job advertisements. "When combined with a simple pension health check at each job move, that transparency could make a huge difference to people's financial security," he remarked. "Pensions need to be impossible to overlook."
The survey also delineated the top benefits influencing workers' decisions to accept roles, along with the corresponding percentages of respondents swayed by each factor:
- Salary: 48 percent
- Flexible working or work-from-home options: 25 percent
- Workplace pension package: 22 percent
- Generous holiday allowance: 22 percent
- Bonus scheme: 13 percent
- Professional development or training budget: 13 percent
- Health insurance or other medical benefits: 13 percent
- Support with health and wellbeing: 10 percent
- Support with personal finances: 8 percent
This comprehensive analysis underscores the critical need for both job seekers and employers to prioritise pension discussions to enhance long-term financial stability and workplace satisfaction.
