Four in five pensions professionals (80%) are confident collective defined contribution (CDC) schemes can improve retirement outcomes.
The research by Aptia found CDC schemes have the potential to do this, but a lack of employer demand could slow adoption.
Aptia quizzed pensions professionals attending the Pensions UK Annual Conference on 13 October 2026, and found a strong belief in CDC schemes relative to traditional defined contribution (DC) pensions.
Despite this confidence, only a third (33%) of organisations are actively exploring CDC, while 21% are monitoring developments. Just over a quarter (27%) said CDC is not being considered by their organisation.
When asked whether CDC will become a mainstream workplace pension option within the next five years, nearly three-quarters (73%) said they expect it to be adopted in some form.
The biggest hurdle facing CDC is employer demand, the researchers found, with nearly two-thirds (63%) of respondents saying their employers are not yet actively seeking CDC solutions, while 18% pointed to member understanding and 9% saw implementation costs and complexity as issues.
Guy Opperman, strategic adviser for Aptia and former pensions minister, said: ‘The survey highlights a fascinating contradiction in the market.
“Pension professionals are broadly confident that CDC can help improve retirement outcomes, yet many organisations remain hesitant to take the next step.
“The challenge is no longer whether CDC can work – but how the industry builds confidence among employers and demonstrates its practical value,” he added.
“The findings also show that strong investment expertise, effective administration and proven scale will be critical as commercial CDC arrangements come to market.”
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