9,000 people across Carlisle are now saving towards their retirement, new figures show, as a result of the Government’s auto-enrolment scheme.
Employers must now enrol staff aged 22 and over who earn more than £10,000 into a pension.
Figures from the Pensions Regulator show 1,720 businesses in Carlisle have enrolled in the scheme since it started in 2012, meaning 9,000 workers are now benefitting.
John Stevenson MP said: “I am pleased that this new scheme means that more people will now have something to fall back on upon reaching retirement.
“Local businesses are showing how committed they are to helping their employees save for a future and I am delighted to see so many businesses on board. I want to thank business owners for supporting the Government’s drive to change the way people save and plan for their future.”
Nationally as of January, more than 1.032 million employers were signed up with 9.3 million employees registered in the scheme.
Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey said: “Saving at a young age for pensions is vital and that is why I believe the automatic enrolment will change the way future generations think. It will become the norm for people to put away money for later in life.
“We have made great success with this scheme but I know we need to go further and that is why we are going to lower the age for automatic enrolment to 18 which will benefit another 900,000 people across the country. Government is committed to helping save for the future.”
The Department for Work and Pensions will now be exploring solutions with experts for self-employed people who have different income and saving needs.
