Revisions to workplace pension participation and savings trends: statistical notice
Published 5 June 2019
© Crown copyright 2019
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/revisions-to-workplace-pension-participation-and-savings-trends-statistical-notice/revisions-to-workplace-pension-participation-and-savings-trends-statistical-notice
Introduction
The workplace pension participation and saving trends collection of publications include estimates of the total annual amount saved by employees who are eligible to be automatically enrolled into a pension alongside estimates of the amount saved per employee and per saver.
The 2018 edition of the publication (covering the period 2008 to 2018) uses a revised methodology for these estimates when compared to that used in earlier editions.
Revisions
The revisions improve the methodology used to estimate the Income Tax relief on the employee contribution and correct an error in how the tax relief is attributed to the total amount saved.
We’ve also improved the methodology used to convert cash estimates into constant earnings terms. This allows us to better distinguish the impact of changes in pension participation and contributions to the total amount saved from the impact of earnings growth in the labour market.
The tables in the 2018 edition of the publication cover the period 2008 to 2018 and present the results in 2018 earnings terms. The tables below show:
- the estimates published in the 2017 edition covering the period 2007 to 2017 in 2017 earnings terms
- how they would look under the revised methodology
- the total effect of the revisions on those estimates
Estimates published in 2007 to 2017 edition
Public sector: 2007 to 2017 edition
| Year | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total saved (£ billions) |
35.7 | 37.3 | 38.3 | 41.2 | 39.4 | 38.5 | 37.9 | 37.4 | 38.9 | 40.2 | 40.5 |
| Employee contributions (£ billions) |
9.1 | 9.8 | 9.6 | 10.6 | 10.2 | 10.6 | 11.2 | 11.6 | 11.9 | 12.1 | 12.2 |
| Employer contributions (£ billions) |
24.0 | 24.8 | 26.1 | 27.7 | 26.3 | 24.8 | 23.1 | 22.0 | 23.1 | 24.2 | 24.5 |
| Tax relief (£ billions) |
2.6 | 2.7 | 2.6 | 3.0 | 2.9 | 3.2 | 3.6 | 3.7 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 3.9 |
| Per eligible saver (£s) | 7,283 | 7,574 | 7,506 | 7,678 | 7,601 | 7,992 | 7,591 | 7,931 | 8,167 | 8,404 | 8,414 |
| Per eligible employee (£s) | 6,536 | 6,798 | 6,700 | 6,828 | 6,704 | 7,014 | 6,814 | 7,250 | 7,462 | 7,621 | 7,724 |
Private sector: 2007 to 2017 edition
| Year | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total saved (£ billions) |
44.1 | 44.5 | 41.4 | 40.4 | 39.3 | 40.1 | 39.8 | 43.0 | 44.4 | 45.8 | 49.8 |
| Employee contributions (£ billions) |
11.0 | 11.5 | 11.0 | 10.7 | 10.3 | 10.6 | 11.3 | 12.7 | 13.4 | 13.8 | 15.3 |
| Employer contributions (£ billions) |
29.5 | 29.3 | 27.1 | 26.3 | 25.7 | 26.0 | 24.6 | 26.0 | 26.5 | 27.3 | 29.3 |
| Tax relief (£ billions) |
3.5 | 3.6 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.5 | 3.9 | 4.3 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 5.2 |
| Per eligible saver (£s) | 6,206 | 6,469 | 6,529 | 6,731 | 6,756 | 6,782 | 5,952 | 4,669 | 4,185 | 4,096 | 3,873 |
| Per eligible employee (£s) | 3,052 | 3,069 | 2,968 | 2,961 | 2,842 | 2,843 | 2,738 | 2,928 | 2,910 | 2,970 | 3,132 |
All employees: 2007 to 2017 edition
| Year | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total saved (£ billions) |
79.9 | 81.7 | 79.7 | 81.5 | 78.6 | 78.6 | 77.7 | 80.4 | 83.3 | 86.0 | 90.3 |
| Employee contributions (£ billions) |
20.2 | 21.3 | 20.6 | 21.3 | 20.3 | 21.2 | 22.5 | 24.3 | 25.3 | 25.9 | 27.5 |
| Employer contributions (£ billions) |
53.7 | 54.0 | 53.1 | 54.0 | 52.1 | 50.8 | 47.6 | 48.1 | 49.6 | 51.5 | 53.8 |
| Tax relief (£ billions) |
6.1 | 6.4 | 6.1 | 6.3 | 6.4 | 6.7 | 7.5 | 8.0 | 8.4 | 8.7 | 9.0 |
| Per eligible saver (£s) | 6,645 | 6,920 | 6,965 | 7,178 | 7,154 | 7,326 | 6,653 | 5,774 | 5,418 | 5,387 | 5,110 |
| Per eligible employee (£s) | 4,008 | 4,088 | 4,054 | 4,146 | 3,994 | 4,012 | 3,866 | 4,051 | 4,069 | 4,155 | 4,271 |
Source: old DWP estimates from the Office for National Statistics, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Great Britain, 2007 to 2017
Revised estimates using the new methodology
Public sector: revised estimates
| Year | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total saved (£ billions) |
33.2 | 34.6 | 35.8 | 38.3 | 36.5 | 35.5 | 36.7 | 35.9 | 37.1 | 37.3 | 36.8 |
| Employee contributions (£ billions) |
6.7 | 7.3 | 7.3 | 7.9 | 7.5 | 7.8 | 8.8 | 9.1 | 9.2 | 9.1 | 9.0 |
| Employer contributions (£ billions) |
24.0 | 24.8 | 26.1 | 27.8 | 26.4 | 24.9 | 24.7 | 23.5 | 24.5 | 24.9 | 24.5 |
| Tax relief (£ billions) |
2.4 | 2.5 | 2.4 | 2.7 | 2.6 | 2.8 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.4 | 3.3 | 3.2 |
| Per eligible saver (£s) | 6,761 | 7,027 | 7,011 | 7,151 | 7,053 | 7,357 | 7,348 | 7,606 | 7,796 | 7,800 | 7,640 |
| Per eligible employee (£s) | 6,069 | 6,307 | 6,258 | 6,359 | 6,221 | 6,456 | 6,596 | 6,952 | 7,124 | 7,073 | 7,013 |
Private sector: revised estimates
| Year | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total saved (£ billions) |
40.7 | 40.9 | 38.1 | 37.1 | 36.0 | 36.6 | 38.5 | 41.3 | 42.2 | 42.2 | 44.7 |
| Employee contributions (£ billions) |
7.8 | 8.3 | 7.9 | 7.7 | 7.1 | 7.4 | 8.4 | 9.4 | 9.8 | 9.9 | 10.7 |
| Employer contributions (£ billions) |
29.7 | 29.3 | 27.1 | 26.4 | 25.8 | 26.0 | 26.3 | 27.8 | 28.0 | 28.0 | 29.4 |
| Tax relief (£ billions) |
3.2 | 3.3 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 3.2 | 3.8 | 4.1 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.6 |
| Per eligible saver (£s) | 5,723 | 5,951 | 6,011 | 6,189 | 6,201 | 6,200 | 5,760 | 4,489 | 3,978 | 3,773 | 3,478 |
| Per eligible employee (£s) | 2,814 | 2,824 | 2,733 | 2,722 | 2,609 | 2,599 | 2,649 | 2,814 | 2,766 | 2,735 | 2,813 |
All employees: revised estimates
| Year | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total saved (£ billions) |
73.9 | 75.5 | 73.9 | 75.5 | 72.6 | 72.1 | 75.2 | 77.2 | 79.3 | 79.5 | 81.5 |
| Employee contributions (£ billions) |
14.5 | 15.6 | 15.1 | 15.5 | 14.6 | 15.2 | 17.1 | 18.5 | 19.0 | 19.0 | 19.7 |
| Employer contributions (£ billions) |
53.7 | 54.1 | 53.2 | 54.1 | 52.2 | 50.9 | 51.0 | 51.3 | 52.5 | 52.9 | 53.9 |
| Tax relief (£ billions) |
5.7 | 5.8 | 5.5 | 5.8 | 5.8 | 6.0 | 7.0 | 7.5 | 7.7 | 7.7 | 7.8 |
| Per eligible saver (£s) | 6,147 | 6,400 | 6,457 | 6,643 | 6,602 | 6,720 | 6,439 | 5,544 | 5,161 | 4,980 | 4,612 |
| Per eligible employee (£s) | 3,707 | 3,780 | 3,758 | 3,837 | 3,686 | 3,681 | 3,742 | 3,890 | 3,876 | 3,841 | 3,855 |
Source: revised DWP estimates from the Office for National Statistics, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Great Britain, 2007 to 2017
Effect of the revisions
Public sector: effect
| Year | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total saved (£ billions) |
-2.6 | -2.7 | -2.5 | -2.8 | -2.8 | -3.1 | -1.2 | -1.5 | -1.8 | -2.9 | -3.7 |
| Employee contributions (£ billions) |
-2.4 | -2.4 | -2.3 | -2.7 | -2.7 | -2.8 | -2.4 | -2.5 | -2.7 | -3.0 | -3.2 |
| Employer contributions (£ billions) |
0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 0.0 |
| Tax relief (£ billions) |
-0.2 | -0.3 | -0.2 | -0.3 | -0.3 | -0.4 | -0.3 | -0.4 | -0.5 | -0.6 | -0.7 |
| Per eligible saver (£s) | -521 | -547 | -495 | -527 | -548 | -635 | -243 | -326 | -371 | -604 | -775 |
| Per eligible employee (£s) | -468 | -491 | -442 | -469 | -483 | -558 | -218 | -298 | -339 | -547 | -711 |
Private sector: effect
| Year | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total saved (£ billions) |
-3.4 | -3.6 | -3.3 | -3.3 | -3.2 | -3.4 | -1.3 | -1.7 | -2.2 | -3.6 | -5.1 |
| Employee contributions (£ billions) |
-3.2 | -3.2 | -3.1 | -3.0 | -3.1 | -3.2 | -2.9 | -3.3 | -3.6 | -3.9 | -4.6 |
| Employer contributions (£ billions) |
0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 0.1 |
| Tax relief (£ billions) |
-0.2 | -0.3 | -0.2 | -0.2 | -0.2 | -0.3 | -0.1 | -0.2 | -0.3 | -0.4 | -0.6 |
| Per eligible saver (£s) | -483 | -518 | -517 | -542 | -556 | -581 | -192 | -181 | -207 | -323 | -394 |
| Per eligible employee (£s) | -238 | -246 | -235 | -238 | -234 | -244 | -88 | -113 | -144 | -234 | -319 |
All employees: effect
| Year | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total saved (£ billions) |
-6.0 | -6.1 | -5.8 | -6.1 | -6.1 | -6.5 | -2.5 | -3.2 | -4.0 | -6.5 | -8.8 |
| Employee contributions (£ billions) |
-5.6 | -5.7 | -5.4 | -5.7 | -5.7 | -6.0 | -5.4 | -5.8 | -6.3 | -6.9 | -7.8 |
| Employer contributions (£ billions) |
0.0 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 3.4 | 3.2 | 2.9 | 1.4 | 0.1 |
| Tax relief (£ billions) |
-0.4 | -0.6 | -0.5 | -0.4 | -0.6 | -0.6 | -0.5 | -0.5 | -0.7 | -1.0 | -1.2 |
| Per eligible saver (£s) | -499 | -520 | -508 | -535 | -552 | -606 | -214 | -230 | -258 | -407 | -498 |
| Per eligible employee (£s) | -301 | -307 | -295 | -309 | -308 | -332 | -124 | -161 | -193 | -314 | -416 |