The UK is in the midst of a pension "catastrophe" that has impacted millions of workers, a senior Labour Government minister has admitted.
Pensions Minister Torsten Bell has sounded the alarm over the state of retirement saving among self-employed workers, revealing that a mere 4 per cent of those relying solely on self-employment income are currently putting money aside for their pension.
Addressing delegates at The Investing and Saving Alliance Annual Retirement Conference 2026, Mr Bell issued a stark warning that substantial reforms are necessary to extend the achievements of automatic enrolment to those currently falling through the gaps.
He said: "If I just look at the ones we're most worried about, who just have self-employment income... four per cent are now saving into a pension. It's a catastrophe."
A Labour minister has warned millions face a pension 'catastrophe'
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According to Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures, there are an estimated 4.57 million self-employed workers in Britain, which comes to around 13.1 per cent of the workforce.
The minister acknowledged that automatic enrolment has delivered remarkable results, with participation among eligible employees climbing from roughly 55 per cent in 2012 to nearly 90 per cent today.
While her characterised this shift as a "total triumph", Mr Bell cautioned that this impressive headline statistic conceals troubling shortfalls in coverage affecting lower-paid workers, younger employees, and the self-employed.
The Labour MP added: "If I just look at the whole working-age adult population, the number is only 55 per cent. So only half are actually saving into a pension."
Among self-employed workers specifically, pension participation has suffered what Bell termed a "complete decimation," plummeting from approximately half to below one-fifth overall.
Torsten Bell spoke to the Work and Pensions Committee to confirm its future | PALATEST DEVELOPMENTS
Self-employed individuals need to file their tax returns | GETTYMr Bell painted a concerning picture of what lies ahead, cautioning that individuals retiring in 2050 are projected to receive lower incomes than those leaving the workforce today.
"Our job is to make sure that we've put in place a pension system that builds on the success of automatic enrolment," he shared.
The Government is tackling these adequacy concerns through the Pensions Commission, which Bell confirmed will deliver its final recommendations in early 2027.
Before Parliament breaks for summer, ministers will publish an updated roadmap outlining their pension reform agenda, complete with a five-year implementation timetable.
How much could you save? Pension pot | GB NEWSMr Bell also mounted a defence of the Government's guided retirement proposals, arguing that the existing framework abandons savers at the worst possible moment.
He stated: "At the moment, we're like, don't have any engagement, and then get to 67, and suddenly you need to become an absolute financial expert."
The minister emphasised that while compulsory annuity purchases would not return, the Government refuses to allow people enrolled through automatic enrolment to be "stuffed over".
"We have basically forced the British public into saving for pensions - it is our job to make sure they get good returns on those pensions while they're invested," he added.