A growing disconnect exists between workers’ confidence in managing everyday finances and their preparedness to make more complex financial decisions. Employer-led financial education could help close that gap and build a more financially confident workforce.
Worker respondents to PNC’s 2026 Financial Wellness in the Workplace survey expressed confidence in handling day-to-day finances, with 71% saying they felt confident creating a savings plan. Yet only 33% demonstrated high proficiency in foundational financial knowledge, suggesting less comfort and preparedness when it comes to investing, retirement planning, healthcare expenses, and building an emergency savings plan.
That preparedness gap can have consequences in the workplace. Eighty-five percent of worker respondents said they worry about personal finances during the workday, spending an estimated average of 3.5 hours per week focused on those concerns while at work. Employers also reported seeing the effects of financial stress through reduced productivity, requests for pay advances, wage garnishments and borrowing from retirement plans.
“Financial wellness is no longer just a personal issue. It’s increasingly becoming a workforce issue,” said Kaley Keeley Buchanan, executive vice president and head of PNC Financial Wellness Solutions. “Our research continues to show that many workers feel confident managing everyday financial decisions, but confidence doesn't always translate into long-term preparedness. When employers help workers build financial knowledge and connect them with guidance and resources, they can support stronger financial outcomes while helping their workers get more value from the benefits available to them.”
Disconnects on the economy and retirement
Against this backdrop of financial stress, the survey reveals notable differences in how employers and workers view the economy and workers’ retirement preparedness.
Seventy percent of employers reported being somewhat or very optimistic about the economy, while only 47% of workers reported the same. Additionally, 86% of workers said that inflation negatively impacted their financial situation in 2026.
When it comes to retirement, the gulf between employers and workers is even wider. Three-quarters of employers surveyed said they believe workers are at least somewhat prepared for retirement. Yet only 45% of workers say they feel prepared, including just 10% who feel very prepared. Another 15% say they do not believe they will ever be able to afford to retire.
“There’s a clear disconnect between how employers and workers feel about their ability to face retirement,” Buchanan said. “While access to a retirement plan matters, understanding how to use it effectively can make all the difference. Education and personalized guidance can help employees navigate an increasingly complex retirement landscape with greater confidence and clarity.”
Importance of guidance and education
In fact, 42% of workers said they have worked with a professional financial planner or advisor at some point. Those respondents reported higher confidence across several financial categories including budgeting, creating a savings plan, investing, retirement planning and debt management.
For those without access to an advisor, employer-led financial education benefits could be a difference-maker. While only 32% of employers surveyed said they offer financial education benefits, 57% of workers who do not currently have access to those benefits said they would use them if offered.
The strong demand for financial education comes as employers place greater emphasis on measuring the effectiveness of their benefits investments. Sixty-five percent of employers reported measuring the return on investment of benefits programs, up from 51% a year earlier. At the same time, many organizations are exploring new technologies, with 95% reporting they either use or plan to use artificial intelligence within human resources operations.
“Employers continue to invest in benefits, but the real opportunity is helping their workers understand, access and use those benefits in ways that improve financial outcomes,” Buchanan said. “By aligning benefits with employees’ needs and measuring outcomes, employers can help build a more financially resilient workforce.”
PNC’s 2026 Financial Wellness in the Workplace Report is based on survey responses from 1,000 U.S. workers and 500 U.S. employers as well as in-depth interviews with both workers and business leaders. For the complete report visit pnc.com/WorkplaceReport.
