Hewitt: The Match Is Back

Many of the employers also are trying to make investing in 401(k) plans easier, by adding automated tools, the consultants found.

- 59% of the employers offer automatic enrollment, up from 51% in 2009.

- 78% of the employers offer target-date fund options, up slightly from 77% in 2009.

- 46% of the employers that do not already offer automatic rebalancing–a tool that helps employees regularly balance their portfolios with their target allocations–are "very" or somewhat likely to add that feature to their plans this year.

- 38% said they are very or somewhat likely to add automatic contribution escalation, which gives employees the ability to choose to have contribution rates increased automatically over time.

"In the last 18 months, employees' 401(k) accounts took a serious financial hit due to the severe market downturn," Pamela Hess, a Hewitt retirement research specialist, says in a statement about the survey results.

"While there has been marked growth in 401(k) balances since the market recovery began, we still see too many workers not saving and investing in a way that will help them achieve their retirement goals," Hess adds. "Employers are trying to do their part to help, which is why they are restoring their matching contributions and offering features and tools that push workers to save more throughout their working years."