Half of German Workers Never Offered a Company Pension, Study Finds
Published on 07/29/2026 at 05:02 | Redaktion boerse-global.de
A new survey reveals a striking disconnect between what German employees want from workplace benefits and what they actually receive. While many workers consider insurance against lost income essential, employers are failing to offer even basic retirement plans to more than half the workforce.
The Continentale study 2026, based on a representative sample of 1,387 people aged 18 and older — including 823 employed individuals — found that only 37 percent of workers have a company pension plan (bAV). Even more telling: 51 percent of employees were never offered one by their employer. Another 14 percent turned down an existing offer.
The gap widens for other workplace insurance products. Just 13 percent of employees have a company accident policy (bUV), 11 percent have a corporate health plan (bKV), and a mere 8 percent are covered by a group occupational disability policy (bBU).
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Lack of Information Blamed for Low Take-Up
Researchers point to a knowledge gap as the root cause. Roughly half of all workers are unaware of what benefits their employer could provide. Jürgen Wörner, a board member at Continentale, said small and medium-sized enterprises (KMU) represent a major untapped opportunity. These firms, he argued, often lack tailored solutions that could help both sides — employees close coverage gaps while employers strengthen staff retention.
Younger Workers See the Risk but Don’t Act
One surprising finding: workers aged 18 to 29 rank disability insurance as indispensable. Yet this awareness has not translated into higher enrollment numbers among the youngest cohort.
The upcoming statutory health insurance (GKV) reform could shift the landscape. Continentale expects employers to increasingly use corporate health insurance as a benefit to offset rising premiums or reduced coverage.
The full study results are scheduled for release in September 2026. Continentale has been collecting the data annually since 2000.
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