Nearly nine out of ten defined benefit schemes are now closed, a new survey by the Association of Consulting Actuaries (ACA) has discovered.
Nearly all defined benefit scheme are closed to new members while current members are more and more likely to see their future benefits reduced.
Keith Barton, chairman of the ACA, said: "It is very clear from the survey that employers do not think employees want to take on the risks inherent with defined contribution.
"If we are to preserve as much private sector defined benefit provision as possible then the government must act during 2010 to free up pension designs."
The ACA survey also found that 76 per cent of employers felt their employees were uncomfortable in taking on the investment.
Other findings include that nine out of ten defined benefit schemes are in deficit, with only 22 per cent believing that they would recover the lost funds in ten years.
Equity release could be one way of helping fund retirement for anyone who finds themselves caught short by their employer. 
