Most self-employed and freelancers failing to save for retirement, Aviva research finds

New research from Aviva reveals a worrying gap in retirement planning among the UK’s self-employed, freelancers, and digital nomads - groups that are increasingly shaping and driving the modern workforce^[3].

Just over a third (34%) of digital nomads – those who use technology to work remotely while travelling and living in various locations, rather than being in a single office – are actively saving into a pension or retirement plan.  The picture is only slightly better for the self-employed (38%) and freelancers (40%). This means that most people working outside traditional employment structures are not building up dedicated retirement savings, potentially leaving themselves exposed to financial insecurity later in life.

The research, conducted among 500 self-employed^[1] and freelancer^[2] workers in the UK, found that nearly a third (31%) of digital nomads intend to start saving soon, but a similar proportion (30%) admit they are doing nothing to prepare for retirement just now. Among all self-employed and freelancers, 23% and 18% respectively are planning to start saving soon. However, 32% of self-employed workers and 34% of freelancers are currently not taking any specific steps to prepare for their retirement. 

Awareness of personal pension options is limited. Just 25% of digital nomads, 24% of self- employed and 22% of freelancers know about self-invested personal pensions (SIPPs) and stakeholder pensions. 

Despite this, flexible working remains popular and just over four in five (81%) digital nomads plan to continue this working pattern long-term, with nearly half intending to do so indefinitely. Among the wider self-employed and freelance community, confidence in long-term financial security is mixed: just over half (55% self-employed) and 50% of freelancers feel confident and secure about their future.

Alistair McQueen, Head of Savings and Retirement at Aviva said, “This research highlights a clear gap in retirement planning for people who are self-employed and freelance. Without auto enrolment or employer contributions to fall back on, many risk reaching later life without the savings they’ll need.

“The good news is that small, regular steps – like opening a personal pension and setting an affordable monthly contribution – can make a big difference. As we head into the new year, now is a great time to review your finances and plan how you’ll save for the future. Flexible ways of working call for flexible ways of saving and taking action today can help build the financial security you’ll need tomorrow.”

For those looking to explore their options, Aviva’s guide for self‑employed pensions offers a helpful overview.

Ends

Methodology:

The research was conducted by Censuswide among a sample of 500 freelancers and self-employed individuals (aged 16+) in the UK between 24 and 29 October 2025. The sample includes 64 digital nomads.

References:

^1. _{Self-Employed definition: A person who runs their own business and is responsible for its operations, finances, and taxes. [↑]}

^2. _{Freelance definition: A person who works independently, usually providing services to multiple clients without long-term commitment. [↑]}

^3. _{From 2001 to 2017, the number of self-employed people rose from 3.3 million (12% of the workforce) to 4.8 million (15.1%), marking a pronounced long-term increase. [ons.gov.uk]. Data spanning 2000 to 2025 shows self-employment growing steadily before 2020, peaking at over 5 million just before the pandemic, then dipping, and beginning a gradual recovery by 2024. [↑]}