Only a third (33 per cent) of private sector employers always include information about pensions in their job adverts, a report by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has revealed.

The report, supported by ADP, suggested that the reason for the lack of transparency on pensions in the private sector was because companies were only making the minimal legal contribution.

Nearly a third (30 per cent) of employers admitted to this being the reason.

Public sector organisations were more likely to include pension information in job adverts, but 41 per cent did not always highlight their pension offering.

Nearly two-thirds (62 per cent) of employers said that they at least sometimes include pension information in job adverts.

Smaller firms were less likely to publish pension information in their adverts than larger companies, with 40 per cent admitting to never including it.

“As an important part of the remuneration package, it makes sense to highlight the workplace pension when posting a job advert,” commented CIPD senior reward adviser, Charles Cotton.

“Yet while most employers in the public and voluntary sector have realised this, it is surprising that so few private sector employers have yet to grasp this. If they do not, then applicants will assume that they are trying to hide something.

“Pension transparency is crucial, not only in terms of the employer potentially being able to attract a wider pool of applicants, but also in raising the profile of pensions in the labour market so that employees can make better decisions and improve their likelihood of enjoying a better income in retirement.

“Such information can also help reduce the size of the gender or ethnicity pensions gaps.”

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