Young educators are thinking about retirement earlier

New research commissioned by NGS Super has revealed younger Australians working in education are placing greater importance on saving for retirement than some traditional life milestones, including buying a home, getting married or having children.

The research, which surveyed 500 Australians aged 18–35 working in the education sector, found:

• 79% say saving for retirement is personally important to them, compared with:
• 58% who prioritise saving for a dream holiday
• 55% who prioritise buying a home
• 52% who prioritise marriage or having children

The findings highlight the financial pressures facing younger educators and the growing role superannuation is playing in how younger Australians think about long-term financial security.

Cost-of-living pressures shaping financial priorities

While many young educators say retirement savings are important, day-to-day financial pressures remain a major focus.

The research found younger educators are balancing concerns around:

• Rising living costs
• Housing affordability
• Rent and mortgage pressures
• Increasing financial uncertainty

For many, superannuation is increasingly viewed as one of the few achievable pathways to long-term financial stability.

This reflects a broader shift in financial attitudes among younger Australians, particularly as traditional milestones such as home ownership become more difficult to achieve.

Despite financial pressures, the findings also suggest younger educators are engaging with retirement planning earlier than many may expect.

However, there is still room to improve understanding and engagement with superannuation.

The research found:

• 21% of young educators know their exact super balance and actively track it
• 68% have only a rough idea of their balance
• 11% do not know their super balance at all

These findings highlight the importance of financial education and helping younger Australians build confidence in managing their super from the start of their careers.

Small actions early can make a big difference

One of the most important aspects of superannuation is time.

Even small actions taken early in a career can have a significant impact over the long term due to compound returns.

Simple steps can include:

• Checking your super balance regularly
• Consolidating multiple super accounts
• Reviewing your investment options
• Understanding insurance in super
• Making additional contributions where possible

Building confidence and understanding around super early can help younger Australians feel more informed and in control of their financial future.

Supporting younger Australians through financial education

The findings reinforce the importance of providing younger Australians with accessible financial education, practical tools and guidance to help navigate financial decisions throughout different life stages.

For educators in particular, building financial confidence matters.

Teaching is a profession built around supporting the futures of others. Supporting younger educators to feel confident about their own financial future is equally important.

At NGS Super, we continue to support members through educational content, tools and guidance designed to help members better understand superannuation, retirement planning and long-term financial wellbeing.

How NGS is supporting younger members

The findings highlight the importance of helping younger Australians feel more confident and informed about their financial future from the beginning of their careers.

At NGS Super, we continue to support members through accessible financial education, practical tools and guidance designed to help members better understand superannuation, retirement planning and long-term financial wellbeing.

NGS Financial Advice can support members with:

• Super contributions
• Investment choices
• Insurance in super
• Retirement planning
• Broader superannuation decisions

Some advice services are available to members at no additional cost.