Two-fifths of self-employed people – 41% – are risking an uncertain retirement because they are failing to pay into a personal pension, according to new data from investment platform CMC Invest.

New private pension figures published by HMRC have revealed that the number of self-employed people contributing to a personal pension climbed to 340,000 in 2021-22, up from 330,000 the previous year.

The Personal Finance Society has welcomed the Chancellor’s support package for the self-employed but warned that some self-employed people will miss out, a view echoed by leading accountants Blick Rothenberg.

Chancellor Sajid Javid has announced a cut to National Insurance from April which should benefit 31m taxpayers.