Just over a third workers in the private sector are saving into a company pension scheme, a new survey has shown.

An insurance, savings and investment provider has conducted a poll which shows that 35 per cent of private sector staff are contributing to a workplace pension plan despite 56 per cent of respondents citing a pension as the best way in which to save for retirement.

More than half (55 per cent) of private sector workers who have access to a workplace pension scheme but fail to contribute claimed that they did not have the funds to pay into a pension.

An additional 28 per cent revealed that they need the money to repay debts, while a fifth require the money to pay for immediate family costs.

Aviva's first Working Lives report also shows that many workers may not be saving for their retirement as their company does not do enough to promote awareness of their pension plans.

The firm has compiled its first Savings Engagement in Employment (SEE) Index - which analyses levels of awareness, ownership and enthusiasm for workplace saving - to highlight the lack of information available to staff.

Employers registered a score of 38 out of 100, while private sector workers were also shown to be responsible for their own lack of interest in workplace schemes as they achieved an even lower score of 29 out of 100.

With employees offered little information from their managers about available pension schemes, many are turning to alternative sources to make decisions on how to boost their retirement income.

Almost a third (31 per cent) of employees rely primarily on annual statements, while 22 per cent log on to their company's intranet to find out more.

A significant proportion of respondents also turn to non-work sources, with 24 per cent scouring the media and an additional 21 per cent opting to speak to their family and friends.