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Type of Pension Coverage

Type of Pension Coverage

Online ISSN: 2811-616X
CSO statistical publication, , 11am

One in five workers with pension cover have both occupational and personal pensions

  • Of those in employment who had a pension in Quarter 3 2024, almost seven in ten (69%) had occupational pension coverage only (from current or previous employments) – down one percentage point on the same period in 2023. However, over one in five (21%) have both occupational and personal pension cover for their retirement, up one percentage point on the same period in 2023. The level of personal pension cover has marginally increased – 11% of workers compared with one in ten (10%) in the same period in 2023.
  • The prevalence of pension cover from both occupational and personal pension schemes, increased both for males and females in 2024 – 22% of males with pension cover had both occupational and personal pension schemes, compared with nearly one in five (19%) female workers, unchanged from when the survey was last carried out in 2023.
  • Over three quarters of workers (with pension cover) in the Public Administration and Defence; Compulsory Social Security (80%) and Education (76%) NACE economic sectors had occupational pension only. Just around one in five working in these sectors (with pension cover) had both occupational and personal pension cover - Public Administration and Defence; Compulsory Social Security (20%) and Education (21%).
  • Almost one quarter (24%) of Managers, Directors, and Senior Officials and Professionals (with pension cover) had both occupational and personal pension schemes, compared with only one in ten (10%) of workers with pension coverage in the Caring, Leisure, and Other Services broad occupational group, and one in seven (14%) of persons working in the Administrative and Secretarial and Process, Plant, and Machine Operatives broad occupational groups. See Figure 3.1, Tables 3.1 & 3.2
Figure 3.1 Persons in employment with a pension by sex and type of pension, Q3 2024
Table 3.1 Persons in employment (ILO) with a pension by type of pension, sex, age group, nationality, employment status, and hours of work, Q3 2022 to Q3 2024

Table 3.2 was updated on 14 February 2025. The footnote attached to Q3 2022 incorrectly stated only occupational pensions from current employment and personal pensions in current contribution were included and the footnote attached to Q3 2023 incorrectly stated only occupational pensions from current/previous employments and personal pensions, including deferred pensions and pensions in draw-down mode were included. These were incorrect and have been removed. For clarity, data presented within the table has not changed.

Table 3.2 Persons in employment (ILO) with a pension by type of pension, NACE Rev.2 Economic Sector and broad occupational group, Q3 2022 to Q3 2024