63% of women admit to having no pension provision
· 55% of women have never considered a pension
· Men are more proactive and confident than women about their retirement income
· Insights point to a pension pay gap of (10%) for future female retirees
According to a new survey commissioned by leading pensions provider Aviva, planning for retirement is way down the priority list for women in Ireland, with only (6%) of women surveyed perceiving it as being a high priority.
The Behaviour & Attitudes Survey of over 1,000 adults nationwide reveals that over 6 in 10 (63%) of women surveyed said they do not have a private pension with over half (55%) of these women admitting they had never considered putting one in place. Almost half (47%) of men cited having a pension, compared with only (37%) of women, which represents a pension pay gap of (10%) and could point to a future of financial disempowerment amongst future female retirees.
When asked about the prospect of auto-enrolment, over 2 in 5 (43%) men were aware of the Government’s plans, when compared to 1 in 3 (33%) of women. A larger cohort of men (64%) were also found to be in favour of auto-enrolment in comparison with (58%) of women surveyed. When asked about security of their future retirement income, almost 2 in 3 (59%) men indicated a higher level of confidence when compared to only 2 in 5 (40%) women, suggesting greater levels of concern amongst females when it comes to pension provisions.
Ann O’Keeffe, Head of Individual Life and Pensions, Aviva, said of the findings: “Having conducted this same survey for the last 4 years we have found that, worryingly, pension coverage for women has remained largely stagnant at (37%) since 2014. While the participation rates for both genders are far too low – the case for women is particularly concerning. Saving for retirement doesn’t appear to be high on people’s agenda.”
While insights demonstrate a disparity across genders when it comes to retirement provision, unsurprisingly, age too plays a significant role. The research shows young workers aged 25-34 as being the age group least likely to have a pension (30%) when compared with (54%) of 35-44-year olds and (43%) of 45-55-year olds, which suggests a pension is not a focus for most people in their 20s and 30s, limiting their potential contribution period.
On this, Ms. O’Keeffe commented:
Of those under 35 without a pension, almost 2 in 3 (58%) say they simply have never thought about it. The survey paints a clear picture of a highly optimistic generation in their financial well-being when they can no longer earn an income While it is understandable that retirement provisions might be the last thing on people’s minds, particularly for younger people, in actual fact it’s one of the most important financial decisions a person can make during their working life.”
“Thankfully, we are all living longer, more active lives and our good fortune in this respect should not become a financial burden. That is why we need to ensure that women – as well as men – across all age groups understand the benefits of financial planning as early as possible in their careers.”
If you have any questions about pensions, please don’t hesitate to contact Gallivan Financial today. Give us a call on 064 66 37393 or pop into our office in Killarney. We look forward to hearing from you.