In Quarter 3 2021, respondents were asked not only about personal pensions in current contribution, but also personal pensions where payments had been deferred for a period of time or were already being drawn down. Over seven in ten (70.3%) personal pensions are in current contribution, with 27.3% of those in employment with personal pension coverage deferred payments for a period, while just 2.4% were already drawing down a personal pension. See Table 5.1 and Figures 5.1 and 5.2.

Nearly eight in ten (78.8%) of personal pensions held by workers whose broad occupational group is Managers, directors and senior officials, are in current contribution holders, as was the case for 75.1% of persons with personal pension coverage in the Associate, professional and technical broad occupational group. See Table 5.2.

People can sometimes choose to defer payments on their personal pension scheme for a period for various reasons and can then resume payment into a pension scheme again. At an overall level in 2021, pension deferral decreased - 27.3% compared with 32.2% in 2020. In 2021, the highest level of personal pension deferral was for workers in the Information and Communication NACE economic sector (36.1%), followed by persons employed in the Transportation and storage sector (32.9%). See Table 5.2.

Of workers with personal pension coverage, almost one quarter (24.1%) were in their pension scheme for 20 years or more, while 11.4% of workers who had deferred payments for a while or completely, were in their personal pension scheme for this duration. See Table 5.3.

Further analysis of personal pensions in current contribution by age group shows that nearly half (46.0%) of personal pension holders in current contribution who are aged between 55 and 69 years have been in their pension scheme for 20 years or more, while nearly three in ten (28.4%) of personal pension holders (who are making current contributions to their pension) aged 45 to 54 years were in their pension scheme for this duration. See Table 5.4.

Just over one third (34.5%) of 35 to 44 years who are currently contributing to a personal pension or PRSA, have been a member of their pension scheme for 5 years or less, while just one in five (19.8%) have been in their pension scheme for between 5 and 9 years. See Table 5.4.

For persons not in current employment (but with previous employments), over three in ten (31.4%) are making current contributions to their personal pensions, while 31.1% have deferred payments for a while or completely, and a further 37.5% are already drawing down their personal pension. Almost half (49.8%) of persons aged 55 to 69 not in current employment (but previously employed), are already drawing down their pension. See Table 5.5.