Retirement concerns are on the minds of many Americans. According to the National Institute on Retirement Security, a non-profit research and education organization that recently conducted a survey on the subject, 83 percent are concerned that current economic conditions will affect their retirement. Additionally, 70 percent believe it is harder to retire today than it was for previous generations—and many are planning to remain in the workforce longer as a result.

While we wouldn’t wish the distress of perceived financial insecurity on anyone, the situation does present an opportunity for employers to leverage benefits including retirement planning education and assistance to their advantage—helping their workers in the process.

Job Seekers Consider Benefits Packages

A survey conducted by Monster.com, an online employment solution, found that most job seekers consider the benefits packages of employers before accepting an employment offer. While it’s not surprising that 32 percent of the respondents ranked a healthcare plan as the most important benefit package component, 8 percent preferred an employer-sponsored retirement plan.

While one might think a retirement plan would hold more attraction for older workers, it is not always the case. According to ADP Research Institute, 66 percent of younger professionals are counting on more help from their employers to achieve financial security through benefits. Only 31 percent of older workers feel the same way.

A survey conducted by ManpowerGroup, an employment firm, found 52 percent of American employers were having difficulty finding suitable talent to fill job openings—even though national unemployment remains high. In an environment where you face considerable competition for the best workers, including retirement planning education, assistance and a 401(k) in your benefits package could increase your chances of landing top candidates.

Benefits Also Impact Employee Retention

Fifty-nine percent of employees say that retirement benefits influence their company loyalty according to ADP Research Institute. It’s easy to see why. Data from the Employee Benefits Research Institute shows that 64 percent of employees enrolled in employer-sponsored retirement plans feel confident in their ability to save enough money to retire comfortably. Only 48 percent of those who do not participate in such a program can say the same.

Consider Worker Preferences When Designing a Retirement Plan Benefit

If you want to get the greatest benefit from an employer-sponsored retirement plan, you need to design it in a way that will attract most of your employees—and these days that means Generation X and Generation Y workers. These professionals value continuous access to educational tools and resources online as well as integration with social media and mobile applications. They are also drawn to newer 401(k) options such as automatic opt-in and target date funds according to ADP.

Whether you already offer retirement planning education and assistance as part of your benefits package or have recently begun considering the merits of such a move, talk with your benefits provider to learn more about creating the optimal win-win situation for your company and your employees.