Nearly half of US workers say they’ll need $1M or more to retire, spurring stress

Core Insights - 48% of U.S. workers believe they need at least $1 million in savings for a comfortable retirement, an increase from 37% in 2024, while only 27% expect to achieve this goal [1] - There is a record-high anxiety among workers regarding the gap between retirement expectations and actual savings, yet 71% still feel somewhat confident about retiring comfortably [2] - Financial anxiety has risen from 71% in 2022 to 90% in 2025, with inflation (65%), credit card debt (40%), and housing costs (31%) being the top stressors [3] Worker Sentiment - 54% of workers have considered delaying retirement, with a higher percentage of women (58%) compared to men (48%) [4] - Generation Z shows the most confidence about retirement (88%) but has significant anxiety about day-to-day finances (73%), while Gen X has the least confidence (61%) [5] - Despite over three-quarters of employers believing their employees are prepared for retirement, less than half of workers share this belief [6] Financial Preparedness - Most workers across generations feel they could work until retirement and still not have enough savings to meet their needs, expressing concerns about debt, major life events, emergency savings, and retirement [7]