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A report from the Economist Intelligence Unit. The implications of an ageing workforce in the UK Sponsored by OLDER, BUT NONE THE WISER?

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  • A report from the Economist Intelligence Unit.

    The implications of an ageing workforce in the UK

    Sponsored by

    OLDER, bUTNONE THE WIsER?

  • 1 The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2014

    Older, but none the wiser?

    Contents

    Executive summary 2

    Calm before the storm 3

    Employee demands are changing 5

    Healthy workers, healthy profits 7

    Tackling the pensions problem 8

    Case study: IHG 10

    Conclusion 11

    Appendix: Survey results 12

  • 2 The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2014

    Older, but none the wiser?

    Executive summary

    An ageing workforce will create big talent management challenges for UK employers. They should be changing their reward and resourcing practices now.

    Historically low birth rates and increasing life expectancy mean that Europes working population is ageing fast. In 2012 the continent reached an inevitable demographic tipping point. The percentage of the population of working age fell for the rst time in 40 years. It is now forecast to fall every year until 2060. This inescapable trend will have profound implications for governments, citizens and companies across Europe.

    The demographic make-up of the UK means that the country has more time to adjustuntil the early 2020sthan the continents other large economies, according to European Commission forecasts. But are UK companies using that time to their advantage?

    To explore some of the issues that senior executives will have to address as they seek to adapt their organisations to this new world, The Economist Intelligence Unit, on behalf of Towers Watson, surveyed 480 senior executives at companies across Europe, with 84 in the UK. Just over three-quarters (76%) of those in the UK expect the number of their employees aged 60+ to increase by 2020, including 29% who expect it to increase signi cantly.

    Key ndings include:

    Companies have a chance to prepare now, but most are not taking it. Workforce ageing will hurt the UK later the continents other main economies. But this opportunity is being squandered. When it comes to the kind of workplace changes that experts say are essential, UK companies are at the bottom of the European league table. Less than one- fth (18%) plan to let older workers cut their hours without feeling less valued.

    Workforce ageing must move up the business agenda. UK executives are currently the least concerned in Europe about the challenge of managing an ageing workforce. Just one in 17 sees ageing as an issue. By 2020 that gure will leap fourfoldthe biggest increase in Europe.

    The bene ts on offer need to change. As the workforce ages, employees will value a different mix of bene ts. UK companies are the most likely in Europe (48%) to feel that the bene t programmes they have in place today would not be t-for-purpose in 2020. Some 60% plan to offer more choiceby far the highest proportion in Europe.

    Insuf cient savings are to blame for the UK pension crisis. Demographic change and government de cits are seen as the biggest challenges to their countrys pension system. But the UK (45%) executives overwhelmingly say the problem is that individuals are not saving enough. That is more than three times higher than in the next country, the Netherlands.

  • 3 The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2014

    Older, but none the wiser?

    The economic and business implications of Europes ageing workforce are huge. But the UK should have more time to adjust than any of the EUs other large economies. Germany, one of the most exposed countries, could experience serious labour supply constraints within the next two or three years under the European Commissions most pessimistic scenario. The UK has a younger population; the Commission does not expect demographics to start hurting its economy until the early 2020s. But when the pain does arrive, the Commission says the UK should have had much more time to adjust, because it will have had more scope to bring people into the workforce and to improve productivity.

    Perhaps it is no surprise, then, that the survey found that UK executives are currently the least concerned in Europe about the challenge of managing an ageing workforce. Just one in 17 UK executives sees ageing as an issue today; that level is over ve times higher in France. But this period of executive calm is not likely to last.

    UK companies will shift their priorities over the next few years. They currently have a laser-like focus on cost control68% say it is one of their two most important business concerns, the highest percentage in Europe. As economic prospects brighten, the focus on managing costs will diminish. By 2020 only 20% think it

    Calm before the storm1

    What would you say is the most important business priority for your organisation currently?(% of respondents)

    Chart 1

    UK in 2020Europe in 2020UK nowEurope Now

    Risk control andmanagement

    Talent management(HR)

    InnovationExpansionCost controlRestructuring

    27 26

    84

    57

    68

    2320

    32

    25

    42 44

    29

    24

    49

    55

    24 25

    4245

    1418

    14

    20

    Source: The Economist Intelligence Unit.

  • 4 The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2014

    Older, but none the wiser?

    will rank as highly. In its place, UK executives say their main business priorities in 2020 will be innovation (55%) and talent management (45%).

    With the focus moving away from what people cost to what value they can bring, workforce ageing will become more of a concern. The survey shows that it will climb up the executive agenda across Europe, but nowhere is the expected leap as high as in the UK, where four times as many executives think it will be a top-three issue in 2020the biggest increase in Europe.

    UK executives have time to prepare that their peers in other countries would envy, but most are making little use of it. The key to engaging and retaining older workers is to adjust work to their needs, says Maria Karanika-Murray, a work psychologist in Nottingham Trent Universitys School of Social Sciences. Some companies are

    already doing this, but many are unsure of their options.

    In important areas, UK companies are lagging far behind. Only 28% of survey respondents say they are planning to ensure that the skills of older employees remain up to date. Just 18% expect to adapt their structures so that older workers who cut their working hours or responsibilities can retain their status in the business and feel valued. On both points, the UK comes bottom in Europeby a wide margin.

    More needs to be done, believes Baroness Sally Greengross, chief executive of the International Longevity Centre, a UK think-tank on longevity and demographic change. There is signi cant denial around the implications and consequences of our rapidly ageing population, she said in a recent debate. If we dont change our employment practice, industry will face a skills gap: this is inevitable.

    What, if anything, does your business plan to do by 2020 in order to adapt to the changingneeds of your workforce?(% of respondents)

    Chart 2

    GermanyUKEurope

    Source: The Economist Intelligence Unit.

    Other, please specify

    Looking at how to address inter-generational differences in our

    workforce

    Giving employees more choiceover their benefits

    Adapting our structure to ensure that older workerswho reduce work hours or responsibilities retain their

    status within the company and continue to feel valued

    Ensuring that the skills of olderemployees remain up to date

    Offering more flexible working hoursor working from home

    Changing the employeebenefits we offer

    Making physical changesto the workplace

    2824

    45

    50

    55

    5646

    46

    4828

    32

    3918

    4860

    222

    2927

    25

    45

    60

    77

  • 5 The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2014

    Older, but none the wiser?

    As employers adjust their human resources plans to t a brightening economy, employee expectations will also change. For now, job security is still seen by executives as the number one employee concern by a wide margin. And UK employees are thought to worry more about this than those in any other European country, apart from Spain and Italy. But UK executives expect this to roughly halve by 2020.

    Instead, employees will look much more closely at the quality of their working lives. Today, 55% of UK executives report that work-life balance is a top-three concern for their employeesthat is by far the highest gure in Europe. By 2020 executives in every country, apart from France,

    believe it will become the main employee concern.

    Re ecting the shift from money to lifestyle bene ts, one-third of European executives expect their employees to want more job sharing, part-time working, portfolio careers and the opportunity for phased retirement. The common denominator here is that employees want greater exibility.

    But how companies plan to deliver that exibility varies by country. For Europe as a whole, the most common response is to offer more exible working hours or working from home (56%). UK companies see this as a way forward too. But they are far more likely to see better bene t

    Employee demands are changing2

    What do you believe to be the issues your employees see as most important today?(% of respondents)

    Chart 3

    UK in 2020Europe in 2020UK nowEurope Now

    41

    52

    32

    42

    6462

    2931

    20

    14

    3135

    232219 18

    15

    6

    17

    11

    42

    55

    4548

    1411

    25

    1720

    17

    33 32

    24 24 2528

    3 48 7

    Source: The Economist Intelligence Unit.

    Caring fordependents

    (children andelderly)

    Skilldevelopment

    Employmentflexibility

    (job sharing,portfolio careers,

    part-time working,phased retirement)

    Newtechnology

    /pace ofchange

    Work-lifebalance

    Healthcareprovision

    Stress andwellbeing

    Saving forretirement

    Jobsecurity

    Financialsecurity

  • 6 The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2014

    Older, but none the wiser?

    programmes as the answer to their talent management challenges. And here they see signi cant need for change.

    According to the survey, UK companies are the most likely in Europe (48%, compared with an overall European average of 39%) to feel that the bene t programmes they have in place today would not be t-for-purpose in 2020. Some 60% plan to change the employee bene ts they offer and to give employees more choice over their bene tsby far the highest proportion in Europe. But UK executives are also the most likely to believe that the cost of bene ts as a percentage of salary will increase (62%).

    Here they will face a conundrum: how can they offer employees the choice and exibility of

    How likely is it that the benefit programmes you have in place now will remain fit-for-purpose in 2020? (% of respondents)

    Chart 4

    Source: The Economist Intelligence Unit.

    Very unlikely Unlikely Neither/neutral Likely Very likely Dont know

    Spain

    Switzerland

    Netherlands

    Italy

    France

    Germany

    UK

    Europe 27272430

    26182635

    9

    13

    2725

    31227

    7418

    21026

    32

    27

    243611

    29

    295

    273

    1914

    81630433

    53621309

    bene ts and work practices they are looking for without allowing costs to spiral upwards? The survey suggests UK companies may be better placed to deal with this challenge than others. Today, they are less likely to believe their company has built up its bene ts offer without an overarching strategy (24%, compared with 37% for all Europeans). But like executives across Europe, only half of them (54%) believe they currently offer a comprehensive bene ts package that helps them to attract and retain staff.

  • 7 The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2014

    Older, but none the wiser?

    As executives rethink their bene ts offer, healthcare will become increasingly signi cant. Even if state health provision were not under pressure from demographic change, the health and welfare of employees would logically become a growing human resources concern, since workforce ageing will require companies to rely more on older workers anyway.

    Over two-thirds (70%) of European executives feel this is the caseslightly more than the 64% in the UK, with its National Health Service (NHS). Yet as state health funding comes under pressure in the UK and companies look to offer a richer mix

    Healthy workers, healthy pro ts3of bene ts, it is no wonder that UK executives are the most likely in Europe (79%) to believe health bene ts will become increasingly important to employees.

    But does that rethink necessarily mean an increase in cost? If older people maintain a healthy lifestyle, there is no reason why they cant choose to continue to work well beyond the pensionable age and contribute in some way, at no extra burden to the employer, says Ken Jones, chief executive of the UK-headquartered European business of Astellas, a Japanese pharmaceutical company.

  • 8 The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2014

    Older, but none the wiser?

    Many companies see phased retirement as an important way of adapting to an ageing workforce. UK executives considering this option are likely to be pushing at an open door. The countrys citizens are almost twice as likely as the average European to want to keep working after their pension age56% of them are keen on the idea, according to the European Commission. On this measure, only the Danes rank more highly among the EUs 28 member states. And those in the UK are also much more interested in the option of taking a partial pension while working

    Tackling the pensions problem4

    What challenges are employers facing in making changes to their retirement benefits? Select up to three(% of respondents)

    Chart 5

    UKEurope

    Source: The Economist Intelligence Unit.

    Staf

    f hav

    ent

    requ

    este

    d an

    ych

    ange

    s so

    em

    ploy

    ers

    dono

    t nee

    d to

    mak

    e an

    y

    Low

    leve

    ls o

    f tru

    st a

    mon

    gst

    empl

    oyee

    s fo

    r fin

    anci

    alpr

    oduc

    ts

    Staf

    f do

    not h

    ave

    tim

    e or

    reso

    urce

    s to

    man

    age

    reti

    rem

    ent p

    lans

    Lack

    of b

    otto

    m li

    ne b

    enef

    itm

    akes

    cha

    nge

    hard

    to ju

    stify

    Low

    leve

    ls o

    f app

    reci

    atio

    nfo

    r ret

    irem

    ent b

    enef

    its

    amon

    g em

    ploy

    ees

    Low

    leve

    ls o

    f fin

    anci

    allit

    erac

    y/un

    ders

    tand

    ing

    amon

    gst e

    mpl

    oyer

    s

    Lack

    of t

    ax in

    cent

    ives

    Lack

    of t

    ools

    to m

    easu

    reRO

    I to

    just

    ify th

    e co

    sts

    Man

    agin

    g th

    e ri

    sk p

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    to th

    e bu

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    ss(d

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    enef

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    )

    Exce

    ssiv

    e re

    gula

    tion

    Cost

    of i

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    emen

    ting

    chan

    ges

    Grow

    ing

    cost

    s(d

    efin

    ed b

    enef

    it p

    lans

    )

    43

    47

    4042

    33

    38

    24

    33

    19

    6

    19

    14

    18 17 18

    29

    17

    1214

    12 12 12

    2 1

    part-time82% like the idea, compared with two-thirds of all Europeans.

    Rethinking retirement in this way might also require a rethink of pensions. And this is where the drive for greater exibility could hit the buffers. While executives surveyed in the UK are particularly keen to offer employees a more adaptable mix of bene ts, 42% say pension arrangements are expensive to change, and 38% say they are excessively regulated.

  • 9 The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2014

    Older, but none the wiser?

    Pension funding is also a thorny issue. Like their counterparts in Europe, many UK executives (41%) believe employers should help their employees to have a comfortable standard of living in retirement, with 44%a notch above the European averagesaying employers should be primarily responsible for providing retirement provision.

    But unlike their European peers, UK executives believe individual employees share the same burden of responsibility. What is more, they are far less likely to believe that the employer should bear the risk of retirement provision. Over

    half (53%) of UK executives disagree with that suggestionmore than double the proportion in Germany and Italy.

    For UK executives, the greatest threat to pension provision in their country is the fact thatin their viewemployees are not meeting their side of the deal. Whereas executives across other countries say the biggest systemic pension challenges are demographic change and government de cits, those in the UK (45%) overwhelmingly point to insuf cient savings by individuals. That is more than three times higher than in the next country, the Netherlands.

    What is the biggest challenge facing the system for retirement savings in the country in which you are based?(% of respondents)

    Chart 6

    UKEurope

    Source: The Economist Intelligence Unit.

    Not r

    elev

    ant f

    or m

    yco

    untr

    y, o

    ur re

    tire

    men

    tsy

    stem

    is s

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    inab

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    lato

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    cos

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    Unr

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    ctat

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    of in

    divi

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    to o

    r pas

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    e re

    tire

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    ealis

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    gove

    rnm

    ent

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    tlem

    ents

    (Sta

    te p

    ensi

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    pens

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    age)

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    h co

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    esse

    spr

    ovid

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    pens

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    ings

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    (im

    pact

    of a

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    Dem

    ogra

    phic

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    (age

    ing

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    lati

    on)

    26

    20

    14

    45

    18

    58 7

    10

    64 2

    72

    6

    11

    4 1 3 0

  • 10 The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2014

    Older, but none the wiser?

    Workforce ageing could also affect the way IHG deploys older staff, adds Mr Voller. We would typically have people moving up the career ladder; if they are staying in senior roles for longer, wed want to make sure we are creating career opportunities for them. What role should they have at the end of their working life? How do we get them sharing their knowledge and experience?

    But Mr Voller believes it is important to look at workforce ageing as just one part of a wider talent management issue. IHG already tries to offer its employees a wide range of bene ts, for example, and tries to take account of what might appeal to them at the different stages of their lifeyoung or old. For me its about making sure weve got the right people in the right jobs at the right time. We dont put a huge focus on ageing per se; the key thing for us is to nd talent.

    Compared with their European counterparts, UK companies have been slow to think about the potential impact of workforce ageing. But the issue is on the agenda at InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), the UKs second-largest hotel operator.

    Tony Voller, senior vice president of human resources Europe and global employer brand and resourcing, says the business will need to nd new ways to engage its 9,000-strong UK workforce in the years ahead.

    We will have to think more exibly about the way we employ people and the bene ts we offer, says Mr Voller. Its great to assume people will want to work longer, although perhaps not at the same pace as they do currently. We will need to think about how we change contracts and so on, so people can get the work-life balance they want.

    Case study: IHG

  • 11 The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2014

    Older, but none the wiser?

    UK companies cannot escape the impact of demographic change, but they could do a lot more to prepare. The need to address workforce ageing is not yet as urgent as it is in other European countries, but surely that is an opportunity for executives to plan now and deal with the challenge effectively, rather than rush it and make a mess.

    This is particularly true in the realm of bene ts. The survey shows that UK executives see a more

    Conclusion

    exible and employee-focused bene ts package as an important way of retaining and motivating workers, who will be in increasingly short supply. Yet those same executives are the most likely in Europe to believe their bene ts programme needs a major overhaul. Now would be the time to start that process.

  • 12 The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2014

    Older, but none the wiser?

    Appendix: UK survey results

    Cost control

    Restructuring

    Expansion

    Talent management (HR)

    Innovation

    Risk control and management

    68

    26

    25

    25

    24

    18

    (% respondents)What would you say is the most important business priority for your organisation currently? Select up to two

    Innovation

    Talent management (HR)

    Expansion

    Cost control

    Risk control and management

    Restructuring

    55

    45

    44

    20

    20

    4

    (% respondents)What would you say will be the most important business priority for your organisation by 2020? Select up to two

  • 13 The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2014

    Older, but none the wiser?

    Global competition

    Technology

    Talent/people management

    Ageing

    Changing size and role of the state

    Offshoring/outsourcing

    Other (please specify)

    66

    54

    39

    9

    9

    6

    5

    (% respondents)By 2020, what will be the main drivers of change for your business? Select up to two

    Talent management and progression

    Motivation and engagement

    Cost control (compensation and benefits)

    Recruitment

    Retention

    Downsizing / offshoring

    Skills shortages

    Diversity of workforce

    Healthy workforce (health, stress and wellbeing)

    Regulation (state/EU)

    Ageing workforce

    Other (please specify)

    49

    47

    41

    31

    28

    19

    14

    12

    9

    9

    6

    0

    (% respondents)What are the main people (HR) issues you face as an employer currently? Select up to three

  • 14 The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2014

    Older, but none the wiser?

    Talent management and progression

    Motivation and engagement

    Retention

    Cost control (compensation and benefits)

    Recruitment

    Skills shortages

    Ageing workforce

    Healthy workforce (health, stress and wellbeing)

    Diversity of workforce

    Regulation (state/EU)

    Downsizing/offshoring

    Other (please specify)

    54

    34

    31

    27

    25

    24

    22

    12

    12

    8

    8

    1

    (% respondents)What will be the main people (HR) issues you face as an employer by 2020? Select up to three

    Job security

    Work-life balance

    Financial security

    Skill development

    Stress and wellbeing

    Employment flexibility (job sharing, portfolio careers, part-time working, phased retirement)

    Saving for retirement

    New technology/pace of change

    Healthcare provision

    Caring for dependents (children and elderly)

    Other (please specify)

    62

    55

    52

    24

    22

    17

    14

    11

    6

    4

    1

    (% respondents)What do you believe to be the issues your employees see as most important today? Select up to three

  • 15 The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2014

    Older, but none the wiser?

    Work-life balance

    Financial security

    Saving for retirement

    Employment flexibility (job sharing, portfolio careers, part-time working, phased retirement)

    Job security

    Skill development

    Stress and wellbeing

    New technology/pace of change

    Healthcare provision

    Caring for dependents (children and elderly)

    Other (please specify)

    48

    42

    35

    32

    31

    28

    18

    17

    11

    7

    0

    (% respondents)What do you believe to be the issues your employees see as most important by 2020? Select up to three

    Changing the employee benefits we offer

    Giving employees more choice over their benefits

    Offering more flexible working hours or working from home

    Ensuring that the skills of older employees remain up to date

    Looking at how to address inter-generational differences in our workforce

    Making physical changes to the workplace

    Other, please specify

    60

    60

    46

    28

    27

    24

    18

    2

    (% respondents)

    What, if anything, does your business plan to do by 2020 in order to adapt to the changing needs of your workforce?Select all that apply

    Adapting our structure to ensure that older workers who reduce work hours or responsibilities retain their status within the company and continueto feel valued

    Very unlikely

    Unlikely

    Neither/neutral

    Likely

    Very likely

    Dont know

    13

    35

    26

    18

    6

    2

    (% respondents)How likely is it that the benefit programmes you have in place now will remain fit-for-purpose in 2020?

  • 16 The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2014

    Older, but none the wiser?

    Increase significantly

    Increase

    Stay the same

    Decrease

    Decrease significantly

    14

    48

    26

    10

    2

    (% respondents)By 2020, for the typical employee at your company, do you believe that the costs of benefits as a percentage of salary will:

    We think its right to look after our staff, and our benefits reflect that

    We offer a fully comprehensive benefits package to attract and retain employees

    We make sure were offering whats normal for our industry, to keep up with competitors

    Its often better for employees to get certain benefits through work than buy them themselves

    In the future, we are more likely to give employees a cash allowance and let them choose what benefits they like

    We have a carefully selected set of benefits suitable for our employees lifestyles

    Weve built up benefits over time, without an overarching strategy for choosing them

    It is difficult to reduce elements of our current benefits package so any change results in an increase in overall costs

    Due to historic reasons/changes we have lost track of why we have the benefits we have

    We only offer the minimum benefits that are legally required, and otherwise just pay cash

    Other, please specify

    57

    54

    54

    42

    26

    25

    24

    20

    11

    11

    0

    (% respondents)Which of the following statements describes your companys attitude to benefits offered to employees? Select all that apply

    Individual Employer State

    Retirement provision

    Savings scheme

    Healthcare provision

    Life insurance

    Disability protection

    Critical illness protection

    End of life care

    12

    7

    43

    5

    25

    22

    56

    44

    1677

    4611

    58

    44

    37

    4827

    2949

    1133

    (% respondents)Who should be primarily responsible for providing and/or funding the following benefits?

  • 17 The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2014

    Older, but none the wiser?

    1 Strongly agree 2 Somewhat agree 3 Neither agree nor disagree 4 Somewhat disagree 5 Strongly disagree

    The health and wellbeing of our workforce will be an increasingly important issue for us as an employer

    The state will play a reduced role in providing healthcare

    Healthcare costs will increasingly fall on employers

    Healthcare benefits will be increasingly important to employees

    1

    619

    424

    1

    232

    2046

    2444

    8

    5

    3530

    2185425

    (% respondents)

    Do you agree or disagree with the following statements about health and wellbeing of your workforce in the future (to 2020)?Rate on a scale of 1 to 5 where 1 is strongly agree and 5 is strongly disagree

    Wanting employees to have an adequate income in retirement

    Attracting talent

    Employee retention

    Compliance

    Workforce planning (managing when employees retire)

    Other (please specify)

    32

    24

    24

    13

    6

    1

    (% respondents)What is your companys main objective in offering retirement benefits now?

    Wanting employees to have an adequate income in retirement

    Attracting talent

    Employee retention

    Workforce planning (managing when employees retire)

    Compliance

    Other (please specify)

    31

    24

    20

    13

    10

    2

    (% respondents)What will be your companys main objective in offering retirement benefits by 2020?

  • 18 The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2014

    Older, but none the wiser?

    Growing costs (defined benefit plans)

    Cost of implementing changes

    Excessive regulation

    Managing the risk posed to the business (defined benefit plans)

    Low levels of appreciation for retirement benefits among employees

    Low levels of financial literacy/understanding amongst employers

    Lack of tax incentives

    Lack of bottom line benefit makes change hard to justify

    Staff do not have time or resources to manage retirement plans

    Low levels of trust amongst employees for financial products

    Lack of tools to measure ROI to justify the costs

    Other, please specify

    Staff havent requested any changes so employers do not need to make any

    47

    42

    38

    33

    29

    17

    14

    12

    12

    12

    6

    0

    1

    (% respondents)What challenges are employers facing in making changes to their retirement benefits? Select up to three

    Insufficient savings being made by individuals

    Demographic changes (ageing population)

    Unrealistic expectations of individuals

    Unrealistic government entitlements (State pension, pension age)

    High costs for businesses providing pensions.

    Government deficits/debt (impact of austerity measures)

    Employers underestimating the future cost of promised benefits

    Too many people not working to or past the state retirement age

    Regulatory and legislative changes

    Not relevant for my country, our retirement system is sustainable

    Other, please specify

    45

    20

    11

    7

    6

    5

    2

    2

    1

    0

    0

    (% respondents)What is the biggest challenge facing the system for retirement savings in the country in which you are based?

  • 19 The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2014

    Older, but none the wiser?

    It is not an employers role to help their employees to have a comfortable standard of living in retirement

    Employers should bear the risk of providing for their retirement

    As an employer, we are concerned about the reputational risk of workers reaching old age and not being able to retire

    13

    23

    4

    27262013

    3025192

    12245011

    (% respondents)1 Strongly agree 2 Somewhat agree 3 Neither agree nor disagree 4 Somewhat disagree 5 Strongly disagree

    Do you agree or disagree regarding the following statements about retirement provision in the future?Rate on a scale of 1 to 5 where 1 is strongly agree and 5 is strongly disagree

    Increase significantly

    Increase

    Remain the same

    Decrease

    Decrease significantly

    29

    47

    18

    5

    1

    (% respondents)How do you expect the number of employees aged 60+ to change by 2020?

    Older workers are less productive than younger workers are

    Older workers have greater skills than younger workers do

    Older workers are less motivated than younger workers are

    Older workers are easier to manage than younger workers are

    Older workers take more time off for health reasons than younger workers

    14

    5

    16

    6

    6

    3835112

    1835385

    3930132

    2941214

    2446204

    (% respondents)

    Do you agree or disagree with the following statements about older workers? Rate on a scale of 1 to 5 where 1 is strongly agreeand 5 is strongly disagree

    1 Strongly agree 2 Somewhat agree 3 Neither agree nor disagree 4 Somewhat disagree 5 Strongly disagree

    Higher costs of benefits

    Greater employee demand for benefits (healthcare, retirement and other benefits)

    Increased flexible working (to provide care for older dependents, phased retirement, etc)

    Progression of younger workers becomes more difficult

    Greater risk of age discrimination claims

    47

    39

    39

    38

    22

    (% respondents)Which of the following do you think is most likely to happen as a result of an ageing workforce? Select up to two

  • 20 The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2014

    Older, but none the wiser?

    Board member

    CEO/President/Managing director

    CFO/Treasurer/Comptroller

    CIO/Technology director

    Other C-level executive

    SVP/VP/Director

    Head of business unit

    Head of department

    Manager

    Other, please specify

    1

    9

    6

    4

    2

    22

    5

    20

    31

    0

    (% respondents)Which of the following best describes your title?

    Human resources

    Finance

    General management

    Operations and production

    Marketing and sales

    Risk

    Strategy and business development

    IT

    Information and research

    Procurement

    R&D

    Customer service

    Legal

    Supply-chain management

    Other

    44

    15

    14

    8

    5

    5

    4

    2

    1

    1

    1

    0

    0

    0

    0

    (% respondents)What is your primary job function?

    Less than 250

    250-499

    500-1,999

    2,000+

    0

    0

    4

    97

    (% respondents)How many employees does your company have globally?

  • 21 The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2014

    Older, but none the wiser?

    Aerospace and Defence

    Automotive and Transportation Equipment

    Charities and Non-Profit

    Chemicals

    Communications

    Consumer goods

    Education

    Entertainment and media

    Financial Services: Banking

    Financial Services: Insurance

    Financial Services: Other financial services

    Food and Beverage

    Government/Public sector

    Health Care

    Hospitality (Restaurant, Hotel/Lodging, Tourism and Leisure)

    IT and High Tech

    Manufacturing

    Natural Resources

    Oil & gas

    Pharmaceuticals

    Professional and Business Services

    Property and Construction

    Publishing and printing

    Retail

    Telecommunications

    Transportation

    Utilities

    Wholesale

    Other, please specify

    4

    2

    0

    1

    0

    4

    0

    1

    14

    5

    1

    2

    0

    1

    6

    8

    12

    0

    7

    4

    13

    0

    0

    4

    8

    4

    0

    0

    0

    (% respondents)What is your industry?

  • 22 The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2014

    Older, but none the wiser?

    Publicly listed

    Other privately owned (partnership, limited liability, etc)

    Private Equity portfolio company

    Family owned

    Government/State owned enterprise

    71

    18

    5

    4

    4

    (% respondents)Please state which of the following best describes your company?

    Less than 500m

    500m to 1bn

    1bn to 5bn

    5bn to 10bn

    More than 10bn

    0

    14

    22

    17

    47

    (% respondents)What are your organisation's global annual revenues?

  • While every effort has been taken to verify the accuracy of this information, The Economist Intelligence Unit Ltd. cannot accept any responsibility or liability for reliance by any person on this report or any of the information, opinions or conclusions set out in this report.

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