A BlackRock (NYSE:BLK) survey conducted with research firm Escalent between April 15 and May 16, 2026, among 1,312 workplace savers found growing anxiety around retirement income, even as annuity options slowly expand in employer-sponsored 401(k) plans.
About 76% of workplace savers said they believe their generation will have less certainty about retirement income than previous generations, up from 67% in 2021, according to BlackRock’s 2026 Read on Retirement report.
A 401(k) is an employer-sponsored retirement savings plan that allows workers to invest part of their paycheck for retirement. An annuity is an insurance product that converts savings into regular income payments, often for life.
The survey found strong interest in retirement income solutions designed to provide more predictable income after retirement. Women were more concerned than men about outliving their savings and generating retirement income, but were less likely to adopt guaranteed income solutions.
"They’re living longer. Of anyone who would really need that lifetime income, it would be women, yet they’re not asking," Jaime Magyera, head of retirement and U.S. wealth advisory at BlackRock.
