The gender "pension gap" is growing with an increasing number of women not saving enough for retirement compared to men, according to a report published today.

The report reveals that 35 per cent women of working age do not have a pension scheme compared to just 22 per cent of men.

The 13 per cent difference compares with a difference of only 8 per cent last year, according to the report by Scottish Widows.

The research, based on a YouGov poll of 5,414 people, shows that 54 per cent of men are now making adequate provision for when they stop working – an increase of 5 per cent from last year. This compares to a static 41 per cent of women.

The report says the gap exists partly because women continue to experience a large earning gap compared to men, and so have less ability to save. Women earn just 62 per cent of average male earnings.

This is reflected in a similar gender gap in pension savings – women’s contributions to defined contribution pension schemes are typically just 66 per cent of men’s.

However, the pension gap is not just down to earning potential as men who are in work are also more likely to belong to their work place pension scheme than women. Also, of those that are saving, men save 10.3 per cent of their earnings on average compared to women who save 9.3 per cent.

Employers also contribute more money into male employee’s pension schemes, according to the report. The typical employer contributions are worth 6.5 per cent of a man’s annual salary compared to just 5.7 per cent for a women.

Ian Naismith, head of pensions market development at Scottish Widows, says: “It has widely been reported that women are disadvantaged in the labour market in terms of earnings – what this report reveals is that as well as earning less, women are saving less for their futures than men.

“The gender gap in state pensions is falling because of the Government’s reforms, but the gap in private pensions is increasing.”

The report also reveals that a third of men claim they have a financially dependent spouse or partner, which equates to 7.3 million women.

The report comes amid government plans to introduce a National Pensions Saving Scheme also known as "personal accounts", in 2012. It is an attempt to plug a £57 billion savings gap.

The scheme, into which workers will be automatically enrolled, aims to encourage around 10 million Britons without a workplace pension to save

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