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Between 2015 and 2018, AARP in Kentucky commissioned research to gauge the opinions of small business owners and registered voters about a state retirement savings program. Both polls show
strong support by both employers (70%) and voters (74%) for a state retirement savings program and both samples of respondents agree that elected officials or lawmakers should support a
state retirement savings program (Registered voters agree: 85%; Small Business Owners agree: 84%). ©iStock.com/csfotoimages Other key findings include: * In the 2015 AARP survey, four in
five (81%) Kentucky registered voters ages 35–64 are concerned about Kentuckians having insecure retirements due to low retirement savings. Many are anxious (66%) about their own retirement
savings, and most wish they had more money saved for retirement. * In the 2018 survey of Kentucky small business owners, many (56%) report they are concerned about their employees having
money in retirement to cover living expenses in retirement and concerned that many could end up relying on public assistance rather than their own savings (79%). * Three-quarters of Kentucky
registered voters (74%) without access to an employer retirement savings plan say they would take advantage of the opportunity if available. Likewise, 61 percent of small business owners
in Kentucky say they would be likely to offer a state retirement savings option if made available. The 2018 AARP Kentucky Small Business Owner Survey was a telephone study among 454 small
business owners or decision makers about employee benefits at companies with 1–100 additional employees. Interviews were conducted May 7–June 8, 2018 in English by LHK. Sample, including
owner names and companies, came from a Dun & Bradstreet business list. The 2015 AARP Kentucky Work and Save Survey was a telephone survey conducted in English by Precision Opinion from
August 13–August 27, 2015 among 1,000 registered voters age 35–64. The sample utilized a voter list. For more information contact Jennifer Sauer at [email protected].