Workplace pension participation rates have soared since the ‘Nudge Unit’ introduced the opt-out default

Proportion of UK employees with a workplace pension, 1997 to 2021

2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020

80%

70%

The phasing in of opt-out

enrolment begins

60%

50%

40%

2012

2000

2004

2008

2016

2020

2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020

80%

70%

The phasing in of opt-out

enrolment begins

60%

50%

40%

2012

2000

2004

2008

2016

2020

2000 2002 1998 2004 2006 2008 2010 2014 2018 2012 2016 2020

80%

70%

The phasing in of opt-out

enrolment begins

60%

50%

40%

2012

1998

2000

2002

2004

2006

2008

2010

2014

2016

2018

2020

80%

70%

The phasing in of opt-out

enrolment begins

60%

50%

40%

2012

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

Office for National Statistics, 2022