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City of London Corporation commissions nudge to lead new research on workplace financial wellbeing
The City of London Corporation has partnered with nudge on new research showing nearly 1 in 4 employees have no emergency savings, and calling for financial education to become a standard part of working life.
June 17, 2026
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Team nudge
June 2026, nudge, the financial health platform used by employers across 160-plus countries, has published new research on workplace financial wellbeing in partnership with the City of London Corporation.
The City of London Corporation commissioned nudge to lead the work because of its track record in financial wellbeing research and its experience designing employer programs at global scale. nudge has published its Global Financial Wellbeing Research every year since 2021.
A financial safety net millions don't have
The report estimates that 8.2 million UK employees, around 24%, have no emergency savings at all. A further 4.4 million say they are overwhelmed by debt.
Higher pay is no guarantee of security. Among employees earning more than £95,000 per year, 27% report stress linked to their finances.
Retirement planning is also falling behind. Only 27% of employees are happy with their retirement contributions. Another 44% either don't know if they are saving enough or don't understand how their retirement savings work.
Yet 94% of UK employers believe their people are confident managing their savings.
Financial education changes outcomes
The research shows a clear link between financial literacy and financial resilience. Employees with lower financial capability were far more likely to have no emergency fund: 75%, compared with 16% of those with strong financial literacy.
Support makes a difference too. When employer-sponsored financial wellbeing support is provided, employees report lower stress (32% vs. 41%) and lower anxiety (27% vs. 38%).
Employees taking part in roundtables said current support often feels too generic. The report calls on employers to offer more personalized, life-stage support built around real-world scenarios.
A call to action for employers and UK Government
The report also asks Government and regulators to clarify the line between financial guidance and regulated advice, expand trusted financial education in the workplace, and support consistent employer standards.
Chris Hayward, Policy Chairman of the City of London Corporation, said many people were never taught how to build resilience or plan ahead, and that workplace support is now urgent.
Tim Perkins, CEO and Co-Founder of nudge, said:
"When people understand their money, they are ready for life's shocks and better placed to move forward. That benefits families, communities, and the wider UK economy. We'd encourage Government to consider tax incentives for employers investing in financial wellbeing, as we're already seeing in the United States."
About the research
The report combines a Censuswide survey of 1,000 senior HR, reward, and benefits decision-makers at UK employers with 500-plus employees, two roundtables, and eight expert interviews. It also draws on nudge's 2026 global research, including 2,102 UK employees.
Read the full City of London Corporation release, or explore nudge's 2026 Global financial wellbeing research.
