TCRS Annual Retirement Survey

The Transamerica Annual Retirement Survey is now in its 22nd year. The survey comprises research among nationally representative samples of Americans and U.S. employers. It is one of the largest and longest-running of its kind exploring attitudes and behaviors about retirement security and the intersections of health and financial well-being across diverse groups of people in all walks of life -- workers, employers, retirees, family caregivers, and the general population in the U.S.


24th Annual Transamerica Retirement Survey (2023)

Workplace Transformations: Employer Business Practices and Benefit Offerings

Robotics and artificial intelligence are revolutionizing the business world, but human workers are critically needed. This research report examines employers' workforce management priorities, business practices, and benefit offerings as new technology revolutionizes the business world. Based on the 24th Annual Retirement Survey, it provides an analysis by company size across more than 1,800 for-profit U.S. employers and additional comparisons across more than 5,700 workers of for-profit companies.

23rd Annual Transamerica Retirement Survey (2022)

Stepping Into the Future: Employers, Workers, and the Multigenerational Workforce

Employers are adapting to the new future of work to stand out in an evolving workplace landscape. This research report examines employers’ benefit offerings, identifies employees unmet needs, and outlines recommendations for employers such as best practices for the multigenerational workforce and changes to retirement savings plans from the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022. It offers insights by company size based our 2022 survey of more than 1,800 employers of for-profit U.S. companies with one or more employees and it features select comparisons with a survey of more than 5,700 workers in for-profit companies.

22nd Annual Transamerica Retirement Survey (2021)

Emerging From the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Employer’s Perspective

Employers are navigating post-pandemic realities and adapting to the evolving needs of employees. This research report examines the impacts of the pandemic on employers and their current HR-related business practices for a multigenerational workforce, health and welfare benefits, and retirement benefits. It includes an analysis by company size based on our 2021 survey of more than 1,800 for-profit U.S. employers. 

21st Annual Retirement Survey (2020)

Navigating the Pandemic: A Survey of U.S. Employers

The pandemic has upended the U.S. economy, yet employers are findings ways to support their employees during this challenging time. As a collaboration between TCRS and nonprofit Transamerica Institute, this report examines what companies are doing differently amid the coronavirus pandemic to support their employees' health, financial security, and general well-being.

20th Annual Retirement Survey (2019-2020)

Pre-Pandemic: U.S. Employer Benefits and Business Practices

Employers tremendously influence workers' ability to achieve a financially secure retirement. This research report quantifies retirement trends by company size and provides insights into employers' business practices and benefit offerings that enable workers to achieve a financially secure retirement. Based on surveys of employers and workers conducted in late 2019, before the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, this research report is also part of TCRS' 20th Annual Retirement Survey. 


19th Annual Retirement Survey (2018)

Employers: The Retirement Security Challenge

As part of its 19th Annual Retirement Survey, TCRS surveyed more than 1,800 employers of for-profit companies with five or more employees to examine their business practices and benefit offerings that enable people to work, save, and transition into retirement. 

Retirees Survey (2018)


18th Annual Retirement Survey (2017)

A Retirement Security Retrospective: 2007 Versus 2017

The Great Recession officially lasted from December 2007 to June 20091 but its after effects continue to linger today. Questions continue to be asked about the status of the recovery among employers and workers. How has retirement security changed? What are areas in need of improvement? TCRS prepared this report based on findings from its annual retirement survey of workers and employers to help answer these questions.

Striking Similarities and Disconcerting Disconnects: Employers, Workers, and Retirement Security

As part of its 18th Annual Retirement Survey, TCRS surveyed 1,825 employers of for-profit companies with five or more employees to learn how they are helping their employees prepare for retirement. The study also provides context by comparing the employer survey findings with TCRS’ survey of 6,372 workers.

17th Annual Retirement Survey (2016)

All About Retirement: An Employer Survey

As part of the 17th Annual Transameriica Retirement Survey of employers, this study reports on how employers perceive their employees' vision of retiring, the extent to which employers have business practices to support them, and the current state of retirement benefits offered. The survey findings reveal four opportunities in which employers can help improve retirement security among workers.

16th Annual Retirement Survey (2015)

The Current State of 401(k)s - The Employer Perspective

TCRS' new research among employers offers an overview of retirement plan sponsorship rates, comparisons by company size, and includes worker insights. Coincident with the release of the new report, on behalf of TCRS and Transamerica Institute, Catherine Collinson has been invited to share the findings and other research before the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging’s hearing titled, “Closing the Gap: Innovations to Promote Americans’ Retirement Security.”

Retirees Survey (2015)


15th Annual Retirement Survey (2014)

A Compendium of Findings About American Employers -- 15th Annual Survey (2014) - Full Survey Results

Complete results from the 15th Annual Survey. The employer report includes five-year trend data and comparisons by company size.

Behavioral finance and pension decisions, by Lampros Romanos

An extensive literature review and a focused analysis on how framing effects, financial literacy, self-control and loss aversion affect pension decisions

Baby Boomer Workers Are Revolutionizing Retirement: Are They and Their Employers Ready?

The Retirement Readiness Challenge: Five Ways Employers Can Improve Their 401(k)s


14th Annual Retirement Survey (2013)

The Retirement Readiness Imperative: Overcoming the Challenges Faced by Small Companies

This report on small businesses, part of the 14th Annual Transamerica Retirement Survey, examines retirement benefits offered by small companies (10-499 employees), assesses the retirement outlook of small-company workers, offers comparisons with large companies (500+ employees), and provides recommendations.

Congressional Testimony

Catherine Collinson was invited to testify to the results of “The Retirement Readiness Imperative: Overcoming the Challenges Faced by Small Companies” before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Small Business at its hearing, “The Challenge of Retirement Savings for Small Employers.

14th Annual Survey (2013) - Full Survey Results

Complete results from the 14th Annual survey.  The worker report includes trend data and comparisons by age, gender, generation, household income, and participation in a retirement plan.  The employer report includes trend data and comparisons by company size.


13th Annual Retirement Survey (2012)

Emerging from the Economic Storm: Retirement Plans in the United States, 2007-2012

This report evaluates how American workers and company-sponsored retirement plans have fared during these five difficult years of recession and brings to light opportunities to improve the current retirement system.

Weathering the Economic Storm: Retirement Plans in the U.S., 2007-2012

This report evaluates how American workers and company-sponsored retirement plans have fared during these five difficult years of recession, and brings to light opportunities to improve the current retirement system.

13th Annual Survey (2012) - Full Survey Results

Complete results from the 13th Annual survey.  The worker report includes trend data and comparisons by age, gender, generation, household income, and participation in a retirement plan.  The employer report includes trend data and comparisons by company size.


12th Annual Retirement Survey (2011)

A "Perfect" 401(k) Plan

Emerging from the Recession (Employer Survey)

Out of Work in America (Unemployed/Underemployed Survey)


11th Annual Retirement Survey (2009-2010)

Employers Remain Reluctant to Enhance Retirement Benefits


10th Annual Retirement Survey (2008-2009)

Employers Reluctant to Cut Retirement Benefits in Difficult Economy

Congressional Testimony

On February 25, 2009, TCRS was invited to testify at a hearing entitled, "Drop in Retirement Savings: The Challenges Small Business Face Funding and Maintaining Retirement Plans in a Struggling Economy," conducted by the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Small Business.


9th Annual Retirement Survey (2007)

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