Fred C Church

A survey of 500 employers by Aon Hewitt revealed a growing concern over employees' ability to prepare for and afford their own retirement.

With rising costs causing business insurance policy and benefit structures to change in recent years, more employers are using defined contribution retirement plans rather than pensions. This requires a more active role on the worker's part.

Only 4 percent of respondents said they were confident their employees would retire with sufficient retirement assets, compared to 30 percent in 2011.

Additionally, the study found less than 20 percent said their employees would be able to manage their incomes during retirement, and only 10 percent expressed confidence that their employees are taking accountability for their own retirement success.

The survey also showed that many employers are taking steps to deal with this situation and help employees prepare for their futures. Three out of five respondents said they are focusing on helping employees understand and use the tools that are part of their employer-sponsored benefits, including investment advice or account management assistance. About 44 percent said they are focused on helping employees retire with enough money.