New research from M&G, a leading savings and investment firm, reveals a surprising reluctance among jobseekers to discuss pensions during the recruitment process, despite workplace schemes ranking among the most valued employee benefits.
According to the study, over a third (36%) of people who changed jobs within the last five years did not ask about the organisation’s pension scheme at any stage of the hiring process, with just 6% raising the topic early on and only 12% doing so at final interview. Over a fifth (21%) waited until receiving a job offer and 16% asked after accepting the role.
Yet pensions remain one of the strongest drivers of career decisions, nearly a quarter (22%) of people said the workplace pension was the benefit that most influenced whether they accepted a role, placing it third after salary (48%) and flexible working (25%). This suggests there is a gap between what people value and what they feel able to ask about when applying for a new role.
The data also reveals some gender differences in the benefits people prioritise when changing jobs. While salary remains the top driver for both men and women, the research suggests women are more likely to value flexible working (27%) and generous holiday allowances (24%), while men place greater emphasis on long-term financial incentives, ranking pension packages (26%) and bonus schemes (16%) more highly (see table one). These findings highlight how important it is for employers to communicate pension value clearly and proactively throughout the recruitment process to all candidates, showing how they support long term financial resilience.
Recent research by M&G and the Social Market Foundation shows that many workers remain disengaged from their pension even after starting a role: 40% of full-time workers don’t know their employer’s contribution, 43% have never changed their own contributions, and 25% have lost track of past pension pots.
Through its Reframing Retirement campaign, M&G is calling for a national pension health check3 that would encourage savers to regularly review their pension circumstances as part of Pension Dashboards whenever they change jobs.
Kerrigan Procter, Managing Director, Corporate Pension Solutions at M&G, said: “When applying for a job, checking the pension scheme on offer is essential. Too many people are missing out because they don’t ask, or the information isn’t readily available. That’s why we make our pension details clear and upfront in every job advert, and why we’d like to see all employers do the same. When combined with a simple pension health check at each job move, that transparency could make a huge difference to people’s financial security. Pensions need to be impossible to overlook.”
Table one: List of benefits which influenced people’s decisions to accept a role
Source: M&G 2026
|
