A survey by the Employee Benefit Research Institute, found that workers would be more likely to save in their employer's retirement plan under several different conditions, including when there is a matching contribution of up to five percent. A majority of survey respondents said they are behind in their retirement savings, yet were confident they will reach their savings goal by retirement. The reasons they are behind in savings: living expenses, child-rearing costs and medical costs.
See "New survey finds workers behind on savings but motivated by matches and automated investing.", Jeanne Sahadi, CNN, April 4, 2005