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Benefits 2.0

Insights for energy and utilities plan sponsors

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Strong today, but uncertain tomorrow

Energy and utilities workers enjoy some of the strongest wages and most comprehensive benefits in the American economy, yet they are more anxious about retirement than employees in virtually any other sector. Nearly four in five say they worry that inflation will erode the value of their retirement benefits.

New research from Economist Enterprise, supported by Nuveen, explores why strong pay isn't translating into financial confidence, and what employers can do about it before the gap between today's stability and tomorrow's uncertainty becomes a workforce crisis. Explore the research to see what the data shows.

Moving with the market
Moving with the market
Moving with the market
Moving with the market
Moving with the market
Moving with the market chart

Economic volatility is reshaping benefits in the energy sector

As prices fluctuate and regulations shift, workers feel the impact:

  • Nine in ten (90%) say market shifts periodically affect their benefits.
  • Over a third (36%) experience frequent disruption to benefits.
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Caregiving strain runs deep
Caregiving strain runs deep
Caregiving strain runs deep
Caregiving strain runs deep
Caregiving strain runs deep
Caregiving strain runs deep chart

Caregivers face greater strain and tougher trade-offs

As the workforce ages, caregiving needs of energy workers are rising. But support is falling short:

  • 74% struggle to access or use their caregiving benefits.
  • 62% have reduced their hours or left a job due to caregiving.
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High confidence, high regret
High confidence, high regret
High confidence, high regret
High confidence, high regret
High confidence, high regret
High confidence, high regret chart

Workers feel confident in retirement decisions, but often regret them

Energy and utilities employees feel better equipped to make retirement decisions than those in other industries.

But many still lack information and support to get those decisions right in the long term.

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Dive into the research with Economist Enterprise

Benefits 2.0 Initial retirement choices rarely revisited
63% of energy and utilities workers rarely revisit their retirement choices. Learn how career level and firm size can shape engagement with retirement benefits.
Benefits 2.0 Retirement anxiety despite strong pay
Energy and utilities workers fear inflation will erode their retirement benefits. Explore how the concern varies by generation.
Benefits 2.0 Benefits under pressure: building resilience in the energy and utilities sector
Resilient benefits around retirement, caregiving, and AI are essential as energy and utilities companies navigate volatility and workforce aging.
A utility worker in an orange safety uniform and helmet repairs power lines from a bucket lift.

Retirement income is in demand

Nuveen explores how retirement income is gaining traction among 401(k) participants in energy and utilities companies.
Learn more

Benefits 2 report thumbnail

 

Articles from Economist Impact

Benefits 2.0 Recharging energy benefits: key strategies for the industry
Employers in the US energy and utilities sector face many uncertainties in the year ahead - the clean energy transition, expanding global market, changing workplace demographics and longstanding disparities.
Benefits 2.0 Overlooked opportunities: a holistic approach to optimizing benefits provision
With an annual investment of US$31bn, the energy and utilities industry offers some of the most widespread and comprehensive benefits.
Benefits 2.0 Powering the future: transforming benefits for a sustainable workforce
The energy and utilities industry is undergoing a major transformation—not only in its pursuit of net zero, but in its workforce, too.

Explore actionable insights from Nuveen

Benefits 2.0 Powering up retirement in the energy & utilities sectors
The aging workforce in the energy and utilities sectors puts a spotlight on the need for robust retirement solutions.
Benefits 2.0 Securing energy—and financial—futures
The greatest threat to global energy is not international conflict, supply-chain interruptions or the race against climate change. It is the lack of qualified workers to innovate and engineer the solutions that power the world.
Benefits 2.0 The universal challenge of retirement readiness
Concern about having enough money for a comfortable retirement is something all generations of Americans have in common, but solutions such as lifetime income can help.

Do you want to stay up to date on Nuveen's latest research?

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Craig Maalouf
Managing Director, Nuveen Retirement Investing

Endnotes

Nuveen and Economist Enterprise, or any of their affiliates or subsidiaries are not affiliated with or in any way related to each other. The research was independently developed by Economist Enterprise and is sponsored by Nuveen, LLC.

The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of Economist Enterprise and do not necessarily reflect the view and policies of Nuveen, LLC. This material, along with any views and opinions expressed within, are presented for informational and educational purposes only as of the date of production/writing and may change without notice at any time based on numerous factors, such as changing market, economic, political, or other conditions, legal and regulatory developments, additional risks and uncertainties and may not come to pass. There is no promise, representation, or warranty (express or implied) as to the past, future, or current accuracy, reliability or completeness of, nor liability for, decisions based on such information, and it should not be relied on as such. This material should not be regarded by the recipients as a substitute for the exercise of their own judgment.

Nuveen, LLC provides investment solutions through its investment specialists.

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