Career averages are commonly used in other defined benefit plans like Social Security.

Some U.S. employers want to go with cuttting-edge benefits ideas to hold down health insurance costs and increase the quality of the coverage but many seem to hope they can find a way to keep offering the kind of coverage they offer now.

Nearly three quarters (73 percent) of U.S. companies expect an increase in their demand for "middle skills" jobs over the next few years and more than half (56 percent) are struggling to find people with the qualifications to fill existing vacancies.

According to Fidelity Investments sixth annual New Year Financial Resolutions Study, fewer Americans are making them for the year ahead.