23 Facts About Women's Retirement Outlook

Today’s women are better educated and enjoy career opportunities that were unimaginable 50 years ago. Despite this progress, the gender retirement gap persists. Women lag behind men when it comes to saving and planning for retirement. Based on the 23rd Annual Transamerica Retirement Survey, this report illustrates issues how women workers employed by for-profit companies are juggling competing priorities and financially preparing for the future.

Life in Retirement: Pre-Retiree Expectations and Retiree Realities

Retirees and pre-retirees face longevity risks from declining finances and deteriorating health in older age, as they navigate a turbulent post-pandemic economy. Despite these challenges, they are living happy, purposeful albeit financially vulnerable lives. Based on the 23rd Annual Transamerica Retirement Survey, this report explores their visions of aging and retirement, when and how retirement happens, life in retirement and their financial situation. 

Post-Pandemic Realities: The Retirement Outlook of the Multigenerational Workforce

Today’s multigenerational workforce is contending with the persisting post-pandemic hangover and hurdles to their future retirement. This research report examines the employment, finances, health and well-being, and retirement planning of Generation Z, Millennials, Generation X, and Baby Boomers. It outlines the shifting retirement landscape and recommendations for workers, employers, and policymakers.

Stepping Into the Future: Employers, Workers, and the Multigenerational Workforce

Employers are adapting to the new future of work to stand out in an evolving workplace landscape. This research report examines employers’ benefit offerings, identifies employees unmet needs, and outlines recommendations for employers such as best practices for the multigenerational workforce and changes to retirement savings plans from the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022. It offers insights by company size based our 2022 survey of more than 1,800 employers of for-profit U.S. companies with one or more employees and it features select comparisons with a survey of more than 5,700 workers in for-profit companies.

Emerging From the COVID-19 Pandemic: Four Generations Prepare for Retirement

Workers across generations -- Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Z -- are envisioning and saving for an active and purposeful retirement amid an uncertain future. Based on the 22nd Annual Retirement Survey, this report focuses on the experiences of employed workers of for-profit companies and the impacts of the pandemic on their health and happiness, employment, financial well-being, and preparations for retirement.

Emerging From the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Employer’s Perspective

Employers are navigating post-pandemic realities and adapting to the evolving needs of employees. This research report examines the impacts of the pandemic on employers and their current HR-related business practices for a multigenerational workforce, health and welfare benefits, and retirement benefits. It includes an analysis by company size based on our 2021 survey of more than 1,800 for-profit U.S. employers. 

Emerging From the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Retirement Outlook of the Workforce

The pandemic has precipitated major disruptions to the workforce, resulting in financial setbacks that could have lasting repercussions on workers’ ability to achieve a secure retirement. It also raises an urgent need for strengthening the U.S. retirement system. Based on the 22nd Annual Retirement Survey, this report examines the retirement prospects of workers who are employed by others, self-employed, and unemployed but looking for work.  

The Saver’s Credit: A Tax Credit That Pays to Save for Retirement

This report provides an overview of the Saver’s Credit, a historical trend analysis, research findings from TCRS' 22nd Annual Retirement Survey, and recommendations for public policy.

A Compendium of Findings About the Retirement Outlook of U.S. Workers

The 2021 Compendium examines 35 key indicators of retirement readiness across demographic groups such as employment status, work arrangements, urbanicity, household income, race/ethnicity, LGBTQ+ status, and caregiver status. 

Life in the COVID-19 Pandemic: Women's Health, Finances, and Retirement Outlook

Despite recent progress in gender equality, women continue to be at risk of not achieving a financially secure retirement than men. This report examines the pandemic's impact on women's health, financial well-being, and retirement preparations.

Living in the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Health, Finances, and Retirement Prospects of Four Generations

Workers are living through a public health crisis and coping with concerns ranging from health and family to employment and finances. This report examines the experiences four generations – Generation Z, Millennials, Generation X, and Baby Boomers – and the impacts of the pandemic on their health, employment, financial well-being, and their ability their ability to save and invest for retirement.

Navigating the Pandemic: A Survey of U.S. Employers

The pandemic has upended the U.S. economy, yet employers are findings ways to support their employees during this challenging time. As a collaboration between TCRS and nonprofit Transamerica Institute, this report examines what companies are doing differently amid the coronavirus pandemic to support their employees' health, financial security, and general well-being.

Pre-Pandemic: U.S. Employer Benefits and Business Practices

Employers tremendously influence workers' ability to achieve a financially secure retirement. This research report quantifies retirement trends by company size and provides insights into employers' business practices and benefit offerings that enable workers to achieve a financially secure retirement. Based on surveys of employers and workers conducted in late 2019, before the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, this research report is also part of TCRS' 20th Annual Retirement Survey. 

Retirement Security: A Compendium of Findings About U.S. Workers

The Compendium examines the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and offers 25+ indicators of retirement readiness across employment status, urbanicities, LGBTQ status, level of educational attainment, generation, gender, and race/ethnicity. It also offers priorities for policymakers for improving retirement security for all Americans. This research report is based on a survey conducted in late 2019 and offers comparisons with a supplemental survey conducted in October 2020. 

Women and Retirement: Risks and Realities Amid COVID-19

This extensive report presents from finding from surveys conducted in late 2019, and June 2020, as part of our 20th Annual Transamerica Retirement Survey. Women continue to be at greater risk than men of not achieving a financially secure retirement. This report examines women’s finances before and during the pandemic, and their expectations about retirement, and includes comparisons with men. The report offers actionable recommendations for improving outcomes in women’s long-term retirement preparedness.

Retirees and Retirement Amid COVID-19

Many retirees had a fragile financial picture before the pandemic, and are now even more vulnerable. While most retirees weren't working before the pandemic, and thus are better able to weather the storm, many would be unable to pay large out-of-pocket costs if they were hit with unexpected bills. This research report is based on a survey conducted in late 2019 and offers comparisons with a supplemental survey conducted in June 2020. 

Retirement Security Amid COVID-19: The Outlook of Three Generations

Workers across generations are at risk of not achieving a financially secure retirement — an issue of major concern long before the coronavirus pandemic. Now, the negative economic effects of the pandemic are further threatening retirement savings and security. The financial vulnerabilities among workers across all generations are becoming clear and TCRS offers suggestions for improving their retirement security. This research report is based on a survey conducted in late 2019 and offers comparisons with a supplemental survey conducted in April 2020. 

Retirement Security for Women Amid COVID-19

This report presents findings from a short survey conducted in April 2020 and examines women’s retirement preparedness amid the coronavirus pandemic, with comparisons to men. This is the 15th year that TCRS has published research showing that women are at a greater risk of not achieving a financially secure retirement compared to men. TCRS aims to raise awareness of the retirement risks that women face and highlight opportunities where women can take greater control of their long-term financial security.

A Compendium of Findings About U.S. Workers

Nineteen Facts About Women and Retirement

As part of its 19^th Annual Transamerica Retirement Survey of Workers, TCRS examines women’s retirement preparedness. This is the 14^th year that TCRS has published research showing that women are at a greater risk of not achieving a financially secure retirement compared to men. This study covers research of more than 3,000 women workers in the U.S. and provides insights to their retirement outlook. With this study, TCRS aims to raise awareness of the retirement risks that women face and highlight opportunities where women can take greater control of their long-term financial security. 

Employers: The Retirement Security Challenge

As part of its 19th Annual Retirement Survey, TCRS surveyed more than 1,800 employers of for-profit companies with five or more employees to examine their business practices and benefit offerings that enable people to work, save, and transition into retirement. 

The Self-Employed: Defying and Redefining Retirement

New TCRS research explores the unique opportunities and challenges for saving, planning, and preparing for retirement that self-employed workers face. This report offers valuable insights to assist the retirement process for self-employed workers.

What Is "Retirement"? Three Generations Prepare for Older Age

Retirement means "freedom" – a common thread weaving together Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Millennials in the workforce – yet simultaneously, people are grappling with how they will achieve financial success in older age. In an era in which people have the potential to live longer than any other time in history, how can we as a society fundamentally redefine retirement and our life journeys leading up to it? 

A Precarious Existence: How Today’s Retirees Are Financially Faring in Retirement

An examination of today's retirees and how they are faring in retirement, looking at where they are successful and where there is opportunity to improve their financial well-being.

A Retirement Security Retrospective: 2007 Versus 2017

The Great Recession officially lasted from December 2007 to June 20091 but its after effects continue to linger today. Questions continue to be asked about the status of the recovery among employers and workers. How has retirement security changed? What are areas in need of improvement? TCRS prepared this report based on findings from its annual retirement survey of workers and employers to help answer these questions.

Striking Similarities and Disconcerting Disconnects: Employers, Workers, and Retirement Security

As part of its 18th Annual Retirement Survey, TCRS surveyed 1,825 employers of for-profit companies with five or more employees to learn how they are helping their employees prepare for retirement. The study also provides context by comparing the employer survey findings with TCRS’ survey of 6,372 workers.

A Compendium of Findings About American Workers - 18th Annual Survey (2017) - Full Survey Results

Complete results from the 18th Annual Survey. The worker report includes trend data and comparisons by company size, generation, gender, household income, educational attainment, and race/ethnicity, which are also available as separate reports..

Here and Now: How Women Can Take Control of Their Retirement

In conjunction with National Women’s History Month which corresponds with International Women’s Day on, March 8, TCRS highlights findings from its 18th Annual Transamerica Retirement Survey of Workers. TCRS has published research for more than a decade showing that women are at a greater risk of not achieving a financially secure retirement compared to men. This study covers research of more than 3,900 women workers in the U.S. and shines a light on their current retirement preparedness and outlook for their own retirement. With this study, TCRS aims to raise awareness of the retirement risks that women face and highlight opportunities where women can take greater control of their long-term financial security.

Wishful Thinking or Within Reach? Three Generations Prepare for “Retirement”

The 18th annual survey of more than 6,000 workers across the country examines the retirement-related promises and pitfalls faced by Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Millennials. The survey finds workers are planning to live long lives with visions of a “retirement” that includes both work and personal interests – but with obstacles negatively impacting their ability to achieve success.

All About Retirement: An Employer Survey

As part of the 17th Annual Transameriica Retirement Survey of employers, this study reports on how employers perceive their employees' vision of retiring, the extent to which employers have business practices to support them, and the current state of retirement benefits offered. The survey findings reveal four opportunities in which employers can help improve retirement security among workers.

Seventeen Facts About Women's Retirement Outlook

In conjunction with National Women’s History Month which corresponds with International Women’s Day on, March 8, TCRS highlights findings from its 17th Transamerica Retirement Survey of Workers. TCRS research finds that women have unique challenges - and opportunities - in preparing for retirement.

A Compendium of Findings About American Workers - 17th Annual Survey (2016) - Full Survey Results

Complete results from the 17th Annual Survey. The worker report includes trend data and comparisons by company size, generation, gender, household income, educational attainment and ethnicity, which are also available as excerpts.

Perspectives on Retirement: Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Millennials

The retirement landscape is ever-evolving. Societally, as the way that we live and work continues to change, we should expect widely held assumptions about retirement to change. Our research examines three generations currently represented in the workforce: Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Millennials. The landscape is now changing so rapidly that it is clear that their retirements will be different from their parents’ generation and from each other’s as well.

The Current State of 401(k)s - The Employer Perspective

TCRS' new research among employers offers an overview of retirement plan sponsorship rates, comparisons by company size, and includes worker insights. Coincident with the release of the new report, on behalf of TCRS and Transamerica Institute, Catherine Collinson has been invited to share the findings and other research before the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging’s hearing titled, “Closing the Gap: Innovations to Promote Americans’ Retirement Security.”

Sixteen Facts About Women's Retirement Outlook

TCRS has published research for more than a decade showing that women are at a greater risk of not achieving a financially secure retirement compared to men. This study, based on the 16th Annual Transamerica Retirement Survey, covers research of more than 2,400 women workers in the U.S. and shines a light on their current retirement preparedness and outlook for their own retirement. With this study, TCRS aims to raise awareness of the retirement risks that women face and highlight opportunities where women can take greater control of their long-term financial security.

A Compendium of Findings About American Workers

A Compendium of Findings About American Workers -- 16th Annual Survey (2015) - Full Survey Results
Complete results from the 16th Annual Survey.  The worker report includes trend data and comparisons by company size, generation, gender, household income, and educational attainment, which are also available as excerpts.

Retirement Throughout the Ages: Expectations and Preparations of American Workers

As part of the 16th Annual Transamerica Retirement Survey, this report examines current expectations and preparations among American workers in their twenties, thirties, forties, fifties, and sixties and older.

Social Security Turns 80

Social Security was enacted 80 years ago this August and serves as a foundation of American’s retirement security.However the U.S. retirement landscape has been evolving, with increases in life expectancies and shifting labor patterns, leading to the need for Social Security reform. The 16th Annual Transamerica Retirement Survey examines workers’ attitudes and expectations around Social Security.

The Current State of Retirement: Pre-Retiree Expectations and Retiree Realities

This new research examines the retirement outlook of age 50+ workers with the actual experiences of retirees

A Compendium of Findings About American Employers -- 15th Annual Survey (2014) - Full Survey Results

Complete results from the 15th Annual Survey. The employer report includes five-year trend data and comparisons by company size.

Fifteen Facts About Women's Retirement Outlook

In celebration of International Women's Day, TCRS lays out 15 facts about women's retirement preparedness and outlook, and recommends seven steps to help improve it.

Baby Boomer Workers Are Revolutionizing Retirement: Are They and Their Employers Ready?

The Retirement Readiness Challenge: Five Ways Employers Can Improve Their 401(k)s

A Compendium of Findings About American Workers -- 15th Annual Survey (2014) - Full Survey Results

Complete results from the 15th Annual Survey.  The worker report includes trend data and comparisons by company size, generation, gender, household income, educational attainment, and ethnicity/race, which are also available as excerpts.

Generation X Workers - The 401(k) Generation

Generation X workers are facing formidable uncertainties about their future retirement. This “401(k) Generation” joined the workforce as 401(k)s were being introduced, and many of them are saving for retirement through such plans.  However, the study reveals that current levels of savings may not be enough, and offers recommendations to help improve the retirement readiness outlook for Gen Xers.

Millennial Workers - An Emerging Generation of Super Savers

Millennial workers are engaged in retirement saving and planning, and appear to be an emerging generation of super savers. As part of the 15th Annual Transamerica Retirement Survey, this report examines Millennials' attitudes and retirement readiness.

The Retirement Readiness of Three Unique Generations

As part of the 15th Annual Transamerica Retirement Survey, this report examines current trends among American workers and compares the retirement outlooks of Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Millennials.

Fourteen Facts About Women's Retirement Outlook

In celebration of International Women's Day, TCRS highlights 14 facts about women's retirement outlook and seven steps to help improve it.

The Retirement Readiness Imperative: Overcoming the Challenges Faced by Small Companies

This report on small businesses, part of the 14th Annual Transamerica Retirement Survey, examines retirement benefits offered by small companies (10-499 employees), assesses the retirement outlook of small-company workers, offers comparisons with large companies (500+ employees), and provides recommendations.

Repairing the Damaged Nest Egg: How to Improve the Retirement Outlook of the Unemployed & Underemployed

As part of its 14th Annual Transamerica Retirement Survey, TCRS surveyed unemployed and underemployed workers and found that 62 percent of displaced workers are “not too” or “not at all” confident about their retirement prospects.  The report delves further into these groups and offers suggestions to help them improve their retirement readiness.

Unlocking Secrets of Retirement Readiness: Meet the Everyday People Who Are 'Power Planners'

The latest survey found that retirement confidence is on the rise, but that there are many Americans who remain unready for retirement.  However, the research also discovered five segments of 'Power Planners' who are on the road to retirement readiness and can serve as a source of inspiration for others.

14th Annual Survey (2013) - Full Survey Results

Complete results from the 14^th Annual survey.  The worker report includes trend data and comparisons by age, gender, generation, household income, and participation in a retirement plan.  The employer report includes trend data and comparisons by company size.

Juggling Current Needs and Long-Term Security: Every Woman Needs Her Own Retirement Strategy

The annual Transamerica Retirement Study found that nearly half of working women don’t have a retirement strategy.  This report was created to shed light on women’s attitudes and behaviors related to saving and planning for retirement and outlines key steps that can be taken to help women attain a more secure retirement.

Weathering the Economic Storm: Retirement Plans in the U.S., 2007-2012

This report evaluates how American workers and company-sponsored retirement plans have fared during these five difficult years of recession, and brings to light opportunities to improve the current retirement system.

The Cracked Nest Egg (Unemployed/Underemployed Survey)

This research, conducted among unemployed or underemployed workers, illuminates the severe effect of what is commonly referred to as the Great Recession on the retirement outlook of displaced American workers. The study shows that only 10 percent of displaced workers are very confident in their ability to retire comfortably.

Redefining Retirement: The New "Retirement Readiness"

13th Annual Survey (2012) - Full Survey Results

Complete results from the 13th Annual survey.  The worker report includes trend data and comparisons by age, gender, generation, household income, and participation in a retirement plan.  The employer report includes trend data and comparisons by company size.

Women: Let's Talk About Retirement (Worker Survey)

A Source of Inspiration: Future Early Retirees (Worker Survey)

Emerging from the Recession (Employer Survey)

Out of Work in America (Unemployed/Underemployed Survey)

The New Retirement: Working (Worker Survey Results)

Educational Matters: The Impact of Educational Attainment on Worker Retirement Outlook

Women and Retirement

A Tale of Two Retirements: The Importance of Employee-Funded Retirement Plans in the Workplace

Women and Retirement: Facing Challenges in a Recession

Managing the Road to Retirement: How Different Age Groups Save

Employers Reluctant to Cut Retirement Benefits in Difficult Economy

Strengthening Retirement Savings in a Weak Economy

Spotlight on Single Women in the U.S.A.

Building Retirement Confidence — Household Income