BlackRock Uncovers Widening Retirement Confidence Gap in New York Survey

Lead BlackRock’s tenth annual “Read on Retirement” report, released today in New York, reveals a record-low employer confidence despite soaring saver optimism, underscoring urgent demand for better planning solutions.

Nut Graf The landmark study highlights a striking disparity: 64% of workplace savers feel on track for retirement, yet only 38% of plan sponsors share that view. This disconnect signals growing risks of shortfalls and amplifies calls for enhanced education and guaranteed-income products.

Survey Highlights

• Savers’ confidence climbs - Two-thirds of employees report feeling prepared for retirement, up 23% over the past decade.
• Employer skepticism peaks - Just 38% of plan sponsors believe their workforce is adequately saving, marking a historic low.
• Retiree readiness plunges - Only 27% of retirees feel financially secure for the duration of retirement, down sharply from 43% in 2020.

Demographic Disparities Generation X, closest to retirement, trails with only 54% feeling on track, while 76% of Generation Z express confidence despite student-loan burdens. This split reveals age-specific challenges requiring targeted outreach.

Bridging the Gap Employers and savers alike are eyeing professional guidance and guaranteed-income solutions. BlackRock notes a surge in interest for actively managed target-date funds and private-market allocations as tools to narrow the readiness divide.

Looking Ahead With economic uncertainties dampening savings rates-median contributions fell from 12% in 2022 to 10% in 2025-experts urge plan sponsors to bolster financial literacy initiatives and diversify plan offerings to safeguard futures.