The number of employees accruing benefits in private-sector occupational schemes has dropped from 6.2 million to 5.7 million in five years up to mid-2000.
This has been revealed by the government actuary's 11th survey of occupational pensions. Of the 5.7 million, 4.6 million were accruing benefits on a defined-benefit basis. Combined employee and employer contribution rates were 16.1% of pensionable earnings for defined benefit schemes and 8.5% for defined contribution schemes.