September 2025

UK. ​Schemes urged to probe asset managers’ net zero commitments

Pension schemes and institutional investors should look beyond industry pledges when assessing whether their asset managers are genuinely committed to net zero, consultancy LCP has said. The warning follows recent changes and an ongoing review of the Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative. While such pledges provide a useful indication of intent, including target setting and progress reporting, LCP said pension schemes must scrutinise managers’ actions more closely to ensure climate goals are credible. LCP has suggested four questions for pension schemes...

US. Big Change To Workplace Investing

Ordinary Americans are about to see the biggest change to retirement investing perhaps since 401(k) plans replaced traditional pension plans. President Trump’s executive order permitting private equity and private credit plans, presumably along with crypto investments, to be included in qualified plans will democratize the investing world—at least in theory. For at least a decade, prominent people like former Blackstone No. 2 executive Hamilton James have made this argument: that since 401(k) investors in their 20s and 30s were locking...

As Asia’s over-65 population nearly doubles by 2050, insurers face new financial risks: Swiss Re

As Asia’s population ages rapidly, insurers must adjust their strategies to meet the changing needs of older adults, according to Ping Ji, Matt Singleton, and Torben Swart of Swiss Re Group, a global reinsurance company that provides research and risk management support to life and health insurers. In 2000, only 6% of the region’s population was aged 65 or older; by 2025, this is projected to reach 10%, and by 2050 nearly one in five people will be in this...

August 2025

EU labour market – quarterly statistics

By European Union In Q1 2025, 197.9 million persons in the EU were employed. The EU seasonally adjusted employment rate for people aged 20-64 years stood at 76.1%, up from 76.0% in Q4 2024 as shown in Figure 1. For the same period, the seasonally adjusted total labour market slack in the EU, which is the unmet need for work, amounted to 23.6 million persons, which represented 10.9% of the extended labour force in Q1 2025, up from 10.8% in Q4 2024. Regarding its main component,...

Modeling pension reform: The World Bank’s pension reform options simulation toolkit

By World Bank Group Today's pension policies can affect retirement incomes and the public finances for decades to come. Retirement income systems that are affordable today, will often prove unsustainable in the future, given the twin pressures of demographic aging and the maturing of pension schemes. The World Bank's pension reform options simulation toolkit (PROST) models pension contributions, entitlements, system revenues, and system expenditures over a long time frame. The model is designed to promote informed policymaking, bridging the gap between...

Shocks to Income in a Lifecycle Model: An Undervalued Risk

By Sebastian Gomez-Cardona Lifecycle models are increasingly popular in financial planning. However, they often overlook the significant risk posed by income shocks-such as career disruptions, economic downturns, or technological advancements-that can affect financial plans, including retirement. This paper explores the role these shocks have on shaping saving rates, financial capital accumulation, and asset-allocation decisions, with particular attention to the possible relationship between income shocks and equity returns. By integrating industry-specific income risk into asset allocation decisions, this research provides practical...

Financial Literacy and Educator Behaviour: Insights from a Local Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

By Anrusha Bhana & Nkosinathi Princ Jali There is a substantial lack of financial literacy among educators, especially in emerging economies, which can influence personal and professional financial behavior. This study assessed whether financial literacy challenges influence high school educators' financial decision-making and behavior. An empirical study employing quantitative methodology assessed the lifestyle spending among high school educators and identified specific areas of financial literacy challenges and limitations. Data was collected randomly from a sample size of 246 out of...

El reto generacional en el mercado laboral: envejecimiento, escasez de talento y cualificación.

Por Randstad Research En las próximas dos décadas, los mercados laborales afrontarán un triple desafío que ya empieza a manifestarse. A lo largo del estudio, se verá que no en todos los países la situación de partida es la misma en cuanto a la escasez de talento y al reemplazo generacional. Pero en todos ellos se enfrentarán a la necesidad de cubrir millones de puestos de trabajo (de aquellos trabajadores que se jubilaran en los próximos años) y, de forma simultánea, al reto de incorporar...

Latinoamérica sin hijos: los desafíos de una región que envejece rápido

Por Carlos Cuevas América Latina esta experimentando una transición demográfica caracterizada por un proceso de envejecimiento acelerado,  lo que implica repensar los sistemas de salud y pensión, pero también la necesidad de políticas natalistas y de cuidado acordes a los tiempos que se avecinan. Solo dos países latinoamericanos superan el umbral mínimo necesario para el reemplazo generacional, que es de 2, 1 hijos por mujer, y aseguran la reposición de mujeres en edades reproductivas: Paraguay (2,4) y Bolivia (2,6). La globalización que...

Cuidados de la vejez y oferta laboral femenina en América Latina

Por Elisa Failache Mirza, Noemí Katzkowicz, Fabrizio Méndez Rivero, Cecilia Parada Larre B & Martina Querejeta R. El envejecimiento poblacional se posiciona como un importante cambio demográfico. Este trabajo analiza las características de los adultos mayores en situación de dependencia, las estrategias de cuidado y el perfil de personas cuidadoras para Chile, Colombia, Paraguay, El Salvador y Uruguay. La población en situación de dependencia funcional es mayoritariamente femenina y mayor de 75 años. Entre un 54 % y un 70...