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)


23rd Annual Transamerica Retirement Survey (2022)

Post-Pandemic Realities: The Retirement Outlook of the Multigenerational Workforce

Today’s multigenerational workforce is contending with the persisting post-pandemic hangover and hurdles to their future retirement. This research report examines the employment, finances, health and well-being, and retirement planning of Generation Z, Millennials, Generation X, and Baby Boomers. It outlines the shifting retirement landscape and recommendations for workers, employers, and policymakers.


22nd Annual Transamerica Retirement Survey (2021)

8 Ways the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 Enhances Retirement Security

The SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022, a result of extensive bipartisan collaboration, represents a major milestone in enhancing retirement security. Based on the 22nd Annual Retirement Survey, Transamerica Institute and TCRS spotlight eight meaningful ways the new legislation enhances retirement security. 

Emerging From the COVID-19 Pandemic: Four Generations Prepare for Retirement

Workers across generations -- Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Z -- are envisioning and saving for an active and purposeful retirement amid an uncertain future. Based on the 22nd Annual Retirement Survey, this report focuses on the experiences of employed workers of for-profit companies and the impacts of the pandemic on their health and happiness, employment, financial well-being, and preparations for retirement.

21st Annual Retirement Survey (2020)

Living in the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Health, Finances, and Retirement Prospects of Four Generations

Workers are living through a public health crisis and coping with concerns ranging from health and family to employment and finances. This report examines the experiences four generations – Generation Z, Millennials, Generation X, and Baby Boomers – and the impacts of the pandemic on their health, employment, financial well-being, and their ability their ability to save and invest for retirement.

20th Annual Retirement Survey (2019-2020)

Retirement Security: A Compendium of Findings About U.S. Workers

The Compendium examines the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and offers 25+ indicators of retirement readiness across employment status, urbanicities, LGBTQ status, level of educational attainment, generation, gender, and race/ethnicity. It also offers priorities for policymakers for improving retirement security for all Americans. This research report is based on a survey conducted in late 2019 and offers comparisons with a supplemental survey conducted in October 2020. 

Retirement Security Amid COVID-19: The Outlook of Three Generations

Workers across generations are at risk of not achieving a financially secure retirement — an issue of major concern long before the coronavirus pandemic. Now, the negative economic effects of the pandemic are further threatening retirement savings and security. The financial vulnerabilities among workers across all generations are becoming clear and TCRS offers suggestions for improving their retirement security. This research report is based on a survey conducted in late 2019 and offers comparisons with a supplemental survey conducted in April 2020. 


19th Annual Retirement Survey (2018)

A Compendium of Findings About U.S. Workers

The Compendium provides in-depth perspectives on retirement. This extensive report offers 30+ key indicators of retirement readiness, preparations and attitudes among workers by employment status (full-time, part-time), generation, gender, household income, level of education, and race/ethnicity.
 

What Is "Retirement"? Three Generations Prepare for Older Age

Retirement means "freedom" – a common thread weaving together Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Millennials in the workforce – yet simultaneously, people are grappling with how they will achieve financial success in older age. In an era in which people have the potential to live longer than any other time in history, how can we as a society fundamentally redefine retirement and our life journeys leading up to it? 

Retirees Survey (2018)


18th Annual Retirement Survey (2017)

A Compendium of Findings About American Workers - 18th Annual Survey (2017) - Full Survey Results

Complete results from the 18th Annual Survey. The worker report includes trend data and comparisons by company size, generation, gender, household income, educational attainment, and race/ethnicity, which are also available as separate reports..

Wishful Thinking or Within Reach? Three Generations Prepare for “Retirement”

The 18th annual survey of more than 6,000 workers across the country examines the retirement-related promises and pitfalls faced by Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Millennials. The survey finds workers are planning to live long lives with visions of a “retirement” that includes both work and personal interests – but with obstacles negatively impacting their ability to achieve success.

17th Annual Retirement Survey (2016)

A Compendium of Findings About American Workers - 17th Annual Survey (2016) - Full Survey Results

Complete results from the 17th Annual Survey. The worker report includes trend data and comparisons by company size, generation, gender, household income, educational attainment and ethnicity, which are also available as excerpts.

Perspectives on Retirement: Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Millennials

The retirement landscape is ever-evolving. Societally, as the way that we live and work continues to change, we should expect widely held assumptions about retirement to change. Our research examines three generations currently represented in the workforce: Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Millennials. The landscape is now changing so rapidly that it is clear that their retirements will be different from their parents’ generation and from each other’s as well.

16th Annual Retirement Survey (2015)

A Compendium of Findings About American Workers

A Compendium of Findings About American Workers -- 16th Annual Survey (2015) - Full Survey Results
Complete results from the 16th Annual Survey.  The worker report includes trend data and comparisons by company size, generation, gender, household income, and educational attainment, which are also available as excerpts.
 

Retirement Throughout the Ages: Expectations and Preparations of American Workers

As part of the 16th Annual Transamerica Retirement Survey, this report examines current expectations and preparations among American workers in their twenties, thirties, forties, fifties, and sixties and older.

Retirees Survey (2015)


15th Annual Retirement Survey (2014)

WYPR ClearPath - Your Roadmap to Health & Wealth One-Hour Special "Health & Wealth for Millennials"

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

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

Complete results from the 15th Annual Survey.  The worker report includes trend data and comparisons by company size, generation, gender, household income, educational attainment, and ethnicity/race, which are also available as excerpts.

Generation X Workers - The 401(k) Generation

Generation X workers are facing formidable uncertainties about their future retirement. This “401(k) Generation” joined the workforce as 401(k)s were being introduced, and many of them are saving for retirement through such plans.  However, the study reveals that current levels of savings may not be enough, and offers recommendations to help improve the retirement readiness outlook for Gen Xers.

Millennial Workers - An Emerging Generation of Super Savers

Millennial workers are engaged in retirement saving and planning, and appear to be an emerging generation of super savers. As part of the 15th Annual Transamerica Retirement Survey, this report examines Millennials' attitudes and retirement readiness.

The Retirement Readiness of Three Unique Generations

As part of the 15th Annual Transamerica Retirement Survey, this report examines current trends among American workers and compares the retirement outlooks of Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Millennials.


14th Annual Retirement Survey (2013)

Unlocking Secrets of Retirement Readiness: Meet the Everyday People Who Are 'Power Planners'

The latest survey found that retirement confidence is on the rise, but that there are many Americans who remain unready for retirement.  However, the research also discovered five segments of 'Power Planners' who are on the road to retirement readiness and can serve as a source of inspiration for others.

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.

Juggling Current Needs and Long-Term Security: Every Woman Needs Her Own Retirement Strategy

The annual Transamerica Retirement Study found that nearly half of working women don’t have a retirement strategy.  This report was created to shed light on women’s attitudes and behaviors related to saving and planning for retirement and outlines key steps that can be taken to help women attain a more secure retirement.

10,000 Baby Boomers Turn 65 Every Day Infographic

Fewer than 1 in 10 Baby Boomers strongly agree that they are building a large enough nest egg.

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)

Relying on Social Security in Retirement

The New Retirement: Working (Worker Survey Results)


11th Annual Retirement Survey (2009-2010)

A Tale of Two Retirements: The Importance of Employee-Funded Retirement Plans in the Workplace


10th Annual Retirement Survey (2008-2009)


9th Annual Retirement Survey (2007)

Filter By
Topic