Increased pension contributions are top of the benefit wish list for employees in 2025, with nearly a third (30 per cent) of employees keen for higher employer pension contributions this year, research from Zest has found.

The group found that calls for increased employer pension contributions were even more prominent amongst older savers, as this figure rose to 41 per cent for those over 55, as this demographic increasingly looks to supplement retirement savings.

Private medical insurance was a close second in the rankings, falling from top place last year, as 29 per cent of employees wanted this as part of their employee benefits packages, followed by employer contributions to energy costs at home (23 per cent) and discounts or vouchers for high street shops(23 per cent).

Currently, employers are required to contribute a minimum of 3 per cent of an employee’s earnings toward their pension, ensuring a combined 8 per cent when paired with an employee’s financial contribution.

However, Zest argued that, by increasing their contributions, employers can ease the financial burden on employees by ensuring they don’t have to reduce or cut continuations to retirement savings in order to manage short-term living expenses.

Zest CEO, Matt Russell, commented: “Continued economic challenges means many employees are looking for long-term financial support from their employer - increasing pension contributions is one of the most effective ways to reward employees and attract new talent.

“In a climate where many people have been forced to dip into their savings, employers who increase pension contributions can ensure their employees continue to build retirement pots, without impacting their day-to-day finances.

“Employers must ensure they listen to which benefits are most important to their employees – this is vital to boost morale and productivity, providing organisations with a competitive edge.

"In order to do this, employers need to use benefits technology that enables them to track the uptake on specific benefits, communicate with employees to understand their needs and adapt the support on offer.”

---