What happened
CAAT Pension Plan has released an insight brief called Nine Realities of Canadian Retirement. It found that what working Canadians expect from retirement and what retirees actually live are far apart, as reported by Talent Canada.
One in four working Canadians expect personal savings to be a primary source of retirement income. Only 15 per cent of retirees say it is. Instead, 58 per cent of retirees rely primarily on CPP and OAS. Among retirees who have a pension, defined benefit income makes up 48 per cent of their retirement income.
Worry is widespread. 49 per cent of Canadians fear outliving their savings, and 60 per cent fear inflation will erode their income. 58 per cent say not having a workplace pension limits their ability to save.
The finding that matters most for employers: 82 per cent of those surveyed said they would be more likely to join an employer that offers a pension. The survey covered 3,317 adults across Canada, was fielded from Nov. 30 to Dec. 5, 2025, and has a margin of error of about 1.7 percentage points. CAAT is a pension plan provider, so the brief reflects its own perspective.
Why it matters if you are hiring
Most job offers lead with salary. This research suggests retirement security is a real factor in whether a candidate says yes, and many employers do not put it in front of candidates at all.
The effect is likely strongest where you compete for experienced people: skilled trades, plant and operations supervisors, controllers and accountants, and senior sales staff. These candidates are closer to retirement and have a clearer picture of what they will need. They are also the people who are hardest to replace.
Smaller employers without a pension plan are not out of the game. The report does not say which alternatives candidates would accept, so treat the 82 per cent figure as interest in a pension specifically, not in any retirement benefit. But a group RRSP with a clear employer match, explained well, speaks to the same worry about complexity and consistency that the survey describes.
The survey also shows people delay retirement when money is tight. That can keep experienced workers in seat longer, but it also makes succession planning harder to time.
One thing to do this week
Pull up your last three offer letters or job postings and check whether the retirement benefit is mentioned, and how. If it is buried or missing, add one plain sentence stating what you offer, including any employer match, and have recruiters raise it in the first conversation.
Traverse helps employers across Canada and the US find operations, finance, sales and manufacturing people, and we can help you present the full offer so strong candidates see its value.