More Than 1 Million Americans Now Enrolled in Auto-IRA Programs

RALEIGH — More than one million private sector workers nationwide are now saving for retirement through state-facilitated Auto-IRA programs — a major milestone in the effort to address the nation’s retirement savings challenges. These plans help workers whose workplaces do not offer a retirement plan to automatically contribute a portion of their paycheck into a secure retirement savings account.


Despite growing momentum across the country, North Carolina does not yet offer such a program.

“Far too many North Carolinians are working hard every day but have no way to save for retirement through their job,” said Michael Olender AARP State Director. “It’s time for the General Assembly to step up. A state-facilitated savings option would offer a simple, no-cost way for small businesses to help employees take charge of their future.”

Auto-IRAs and other state retirement options are already operating in 20 states. These efforts are especially important for small business employees, who are much less likely to have access to an employer-sponsored plan.

“These programs show that when saving for retirement is easy and automatic, people do it,” said Nancy LeaMond, AARP Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy & Engagement Officer. “Thanks to state action, over a million Americans who were previously unable to save for retirement through their job are now doing that, though too many hardworking people are still left behind. Now state leaders and Congress must work to ensure every American worker has access to a retirement savings plan at work where they can easily save for their future.”

According to AARP research, nearly half of American workers in the private sector ─ 56 million people ─ still lack access to a retirement plan through their employer. Small businesses are especially likely to not have an employer-based retirement plan in place. Auto-IRA programs can help close this retirement savings gap; they don’t charge fees to employers and are designed to be simple for both employers and employees to use.

AARP has been a leading advocate for these options, working at both the state and federal levels to expand access to retirement savings. AARP has endorsed proposed federal legislation, including the bipartisan Retirement Savings for Americans Act and the Automatic IRA Act, both of which would help improve retirement security for American workers.

In North Carolina, AARP is advocating for NC Work and Save which would help over half of the state's private sector workers save for retirement.

For more on AARP’s advocacy on retirement security and broader efforts to strengthen financial security, view AARP’s Financial Security Fact Sheet.


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