The number of businesses that have closed their final salary pension to all of their staff has jumped by a third, the National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF) has revealed.

Its latest Annual Survey found that almost a quarter (23%) of pension schemes are now shut to both new staff and to future contributions from people who were already in the pension. This is up by a third from 17% in 2010, and was just 3% in 2008.

The survey shows more change is inevitable. Among those pension schemes which are closed to new staff but still open to existing staff, 30% expect to close the pension altogether in the next five years. They plan to then move staff into a ‘defined contribution’ pension, where the employer is exposed to much less risk.

Meanwhile, one in ten (11%) say they will keep the existing defined benefit pension scheme structure, but will make it less generous. This could include changing accrual rates or moving from a final salary to a career average structure.

The findings reflect an escalation in the decline of final salary (or ‘defined benefit’) pensions, as schemes that have already closed to new joiners shift their focus to existing members.

Final salary pensions have been increasingly strained by rising longevity, poor investment results, and red tape. Employers have been closing these pensions to try to manage risks and mounting costs. Only 19% of private sector schemes are now open to new joiners, compared with 88% ten years ago.