The earnings thresholds for automatic enrolment (AE) in 2027/28 will remain at the same levels as in 2026/27, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced.

In its annual review of the AE earnings trigger and qualifying earnings band, the DWP confirmed the earnings trigger, lower earnings limit (LEL), and upper earnings limit (UEL) will be maintained.

The earnings trigger of £10,000 will remain in place for 2027/28, with the DWP estimating that retaining the trigger at this level will see private pension participation increase by around 48,000 people to 17.4 million.

The LEL for 2027/28 will remain at £6,240. The DWP said maintaining the LEL at this level supported the principle that everyone who is auto-enrolled will continue to pay contributions on a “meaningful proportion” of their income.

“It is consistent with the government’s ambitions to improve financial resilience for retirement, in particular among low and moderate earners,” the DWP stated.

Total private sector employee pension savings, including employee and employer contributions and tax relief, was expected to increase from £98bn in 2026/27 to £100bn in 2027/28.

Finally, the UEL will also remain at the same level of £50,270, as the government aims to distinguish the AE target group of low to moderate earners and the statutory minimum contributions from higher earners.

“These higher earners might reasonably be expected to have access to a pension scheme that offers more than the minimum and are more likely to make personal arrangements for additional saving,” the DWP said.

The DWP also published its response to the 2026 review of the alternative quality requirements for pension schemes being used for AE.

It concluded that the alternative quality requirements remained fit for purpose and did not recommend any changes to the requirements at this time.

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