“As the country rebuilds, we need new ideas to build wealth and financial security for American working families,” Ms. Ghilarducci said in a news release. “Our bold design for expanding retirement plans is one key step. Low- and moderate-income workers should have access to the same type of proven, expertly designed savings plan available to every member of Congress and the broader federal workforce.”
The survey, which was conducted in March by polling firm Echelon Insights and includes responses from 1,000 registered voters, found that 55% of respondents were supportive of a program offering government-matched retirement contributions to lower-income workers, but support grew to 63% after learning about the proposal’s features. Nearly a quarter (23%) were opposed to the proposal all together and 14% were unsure, the survey found.
More broadly, 91% of voters agreed that all working Americans should have the ability to participate in a retirement savings plan.
Separately, 76% of respondents said they’re somewhat or very confident they will be able to improve their financial standing over their lifetime, but only 50% said the next generation will be financially better off than their generation, according to the survey.