Ministers should compel companies to provide details of any workplace pension scheme in their employment adverts, the TUC has said.

The call came as the union body published details of new research showing that less that ten per cent of companies provide details of pension entitlements in their job adverts.

Its study found that out of a total of 1,519 adverts reviewed, only 101 made any mention of pensions.

And of the adverts that detailed the pension provision only half listed the plan on offer as a final salary scheme.

As part of its campaign to boost pension provision, the TUC said employers should be compelled to mention the existence of any workplace pension scheme in their employment adverts, along with the amount the company contributed each year.

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said employers who offer a pension but who don't advertise it when looking for new staff "are missing a trick by not mentioning one of the key elements of the benefits package they offer".

"If all job adverts mentioned whether or not the company provided a pension, and stated the level of employer contribution, it would help individuals choose a prospective employer," he added.

"This would encourage jobseekers to start regarding a pension as important a factor as salary and holiday entitlement when considering any career move.

"With many employers now not giving their staff the chance to pay into any kind of pension, it seems strange that those companies and organisations who do offer and contribute to employee pensions should be so reluctant to advertise the fact."