June 2026

German pension commission proposes shift to Swedish-style fund

A commission appointed by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has proposed a Swedish-style pension fund and a gradual ‌increase in the retirement age to help stabilise the country's pension system as the population ages. The commission's report, presented on Tuesday, will form the basis for a major overhaul of Germany's pension system which the government aims to agree in the coming weeks. It called for establishing a fund modelled on the Swedish ​pension system, with mandatory contributions by workers and employers that...

Mexican teachers end strike after 20 days

Mexico City, JA group of Mexican teachers who were striking over wages and pensions ended their protest Saturday after 20 days of street action, including attempts to disrupt World Cup events in the capital city. "Today, we are returning to our classrooms because we intend to honor our commitments to our students, their communities, and their parents," said Pedro Hernandez, a representative of the CNTE teachers' union, told reporters. "However, they have not succeeded in shaking our conviction that this fight...

AI and the US labour market: effects on employment growth

As firms around the world adopt AI tools, the impact of AI on labour markets is being widely discussed.[1] While AI’s potential to disrupt job markets could be significant, its effects on aggregate employment appear to be muted so far. Still, there is growing evidence that AI is negatively affecting employment for specific occupational sub-groups, particularly junior workers in highly exposed occupations.[2] This box analyses the effects of AI on employment growth in recent years, focusing on the United...

Making pensions more inclusive for LGBTQ+ members

Research by Scottish Widows shows almost half (49%) of LGBTQ+ people are on track for less than a minimum retirement lifestyle, compared with 38% of non-LGBTQ+ people. More than half (54%) aren't confident managing their retirement savings, compared with 37% of the wider population, while 30% are not saving for retirement at all. These figures highlight that retirement outcomes are shaped by much more than pension contributions alone. Family circumstances, health, financial confidence, workplace experiences and access to support can all...

AI In Pensions: The Pensions Regulator Sets Out Its Views

The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has published a plan providing guidance on how AI should be used by the pensions industry (the Plan). The Plan also outlines TPR’s role in, and approach to, overseeing the adoption of AI by pension schemes. Further guidance on the responsible adoption of AI is expected to come later in 2026. Trustees and their service providers may be using AI-driven processes in pensions contexts such as member benefits calculations, transfer requests, or communications, as well as internal and...

Why America’s Aging Population Is the Next Big Business Frontier

For decades, business leaders focused their energy on millennials — their spending habits, their values, their appetite for disruption. Meanwhile, a far larger economic force was quietly building momentum. Americans over 65 now represent one of the fastest growing consumer segments in the country, and the organizations, entrepreneurs, and executives paying attention stand to reshape entire industries. This isn’t a demographic footnote. It’s a structural shift with real consequences for healthcare delivery, real estate, workforce planning, and consumer product design....

South Africa. Government invested R18 billion in pension funds in 23 companies and lost 100% of its money

The Public Investment Corporation’s (PIC) Isibaya Fund invested more than R18.2 billion in 23 companies, which ultimately recorded an internal rate of return (IRR) of -100%, meaning the investments lost all their value. The losses came to light through a parliamentary reply to questions from DA MP Andrew Bateman to the Minister of Finance regarding the PIC’s unlisted investment portfolio. The PIC is South Africa’s state-owned asset manager and invests money on behalf of public sector clients, including the Government Employees Pension Fund...

Côte d’Ivoire Expands Social Protection Coverage for Informal Workers

Côte d’Ivoire has expanded access to health insurance, pensions and social benefits for informal workers, a group that accounts for more than 92% of total employment. The government estimates that 1.6 million informal workers are now eligible for retirement pensions through the Social Scheme for Independent Workers (RSTI). Authorities enrolled more than 23 million people in the Universal Health Coverage (CMU) system by December 2025, but participation and benefit utilization rates remain low. The Ivorian government has taken another...

Vanguard’s alarming state of retirement in 2026: The average American has $167,970 in their account—or they have $44,115

For 25 years, Vanguard has been keeping score on the great American retirement experiment. Every year, it publishes the most comprehensive snapshot in the industry of how workers save, how much they accumulate, and whether any of it will be enough. The 2026 edition is out. Spoiler: It depends on which number you’re looking at. The number Vanguard leads with is $167,970—the average 401(k) balance across nearly 5 million accounts the firm administered at year-end 2025. That’s a record high, up 13% from...

South Korea. Pension Savings Balances Near 200 Trillion Won

Last year, driven by a bullish stock market, pension savings balances neared 200 trillion Korean won, with annual returns exceeding 10%. Notably, annual returns for pension savings funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) approached 30%. Pension savings are voluntary products individuals join in addition to the National Pension and retirement pensions. On the 18th, the Financial Services Commission and the Financial Supervisory Service announced in the "2025 South Korean Pension Savings Investment White Paper" that last year’s accumulated pension savings balance...