UK employees are optimistic about all aspects of their lives – except for retirement planning

Employees in the UK feel more optimistic about almost every aspect of their lives than at any other point in the past five years – with the exception of their plans for retirement, according to new research from Fidelity International (‘Fidelity’).

Fidelity’s Global Sentiment Survey, now in its fifth year, tracks the views of more than 38,000 working adults from across 35 markets around the world, including the views of 1,000 UK employees in the UK*.

Its latest findings reveal that overall levels of optimism have increased to 54% of UK employees in 2025, up from 52% in 2024 and 48% in 2023. This sense of optimism extends to most aspects of their lives, with respondents most likely to describe the condition of their finances, working lives, and health as ‘good’.

However, the research highlighted one outlier within this trend – their attitudes towards retirement planning.

UK employees’ rating of different aspects of everyday life

This is mirrored in how UK employees feel about achieving their goals, with respondents more likely to feel positive about nearer-term goals – such as paying off debts (36%) and maintaining their existing lifestyle and income (42%). In contrast, they feel far less confident about achieving longer-term goals such as retiring financially comfortably (29%) and preparing for later life (31%).

The research also explored the areas which have contributed towards workers feeling stressed in the past six months. Economic and geopolitical uncertainty have played a significant part in feelings of unease, with the cost of living and rising inflation (69%), the state of the economy (66%) and global political events (56%) proving the most likely causes of concern.

In terms of their own finances, saving enough for retirement (50%) and longer-term financial goals (47%) are more likely to have prompted feelings of stress, compared with short-term priorities (40%) or paying down debts (29%).

Daniel Smith, Head of Workplace Investing Distribution, Fidelity International comments: “Our findings highlight a growing need for solutions that help employees plan their finances in a more joined-up way. While many feel comfortable managing their short-term financial commitments, longer term planning – particularly preparing for retirement – remains much harder to navigate. Employees increasingly want to see their full financial picture in one place and understand how decisions today affect their future.”

The research underlined the broader impact of employers supporting employee financial wellness, with reported job satisfaction levels significantly higher amongst those who receive financial wellness support from their employer (46%), compared with those who do not (30%).

Daniel Smith continues: “Support through the workplace is critical. As trusted sources of information, employers are uniquely positioned to provide access to tools, education and resources that can build financial confidence – from access to digital platforms that bring together savings, pensions and investments, to in-person guidance and coaching that can help employees to make informed choices. When employees feel equipped to plan for the long term, businesses may also benefit from a more engaged, productive and resilient workforce.

“We are making a significant investment in the solutions we offer to clients and their employees this year, both through the development of digital tools which use AI to offer a more personalised approach to planning – both before and during retirement – and as we broaden our range of investment propositions to provide a greater certainty of income in later life.”

*Research conducted by Opinium Research, based upon a sample of 1,000 UK working adults between the ages of 20-75 (16 September-20 October). Research forms part of Fidelity International’s Global Sentiment Survey, which was fielded to 38,000 working adults across 35 international markets.