A national survey conducted by Wells Fargo & Co.’s employee benefits consulting group, BPS&M, found that 66 percent of employers already use automatic enrollment in 401(k) plans or intend to use it within the next year and a half.

Large swings toward investments that employees are automatically enrolled in were also reported in the survey. Fifty-six percent use a diversified account now.

More than 350 employers from across the nation participated in the survey, which found a nearly 70 percent increase in the percentage of plans that automatically enroll new employees in the organization’s 401(k) or other defined contribution plan (44 percent in 2007 compared to 26 percent in 2006). About one-fifth, 21 percent, of these plans also automatically increase employees’ contribution rates over time.

“The retirement landscape is changing rapidly and America’s 401(k) plans are going through a dramatic transformation that will result in significantly greater retirement savings for millions of workers,” said Laurie Nordquist, head of Wells Fargo Institutional Trust Services. “Automatic enrollment, especially when combined with a diversified default investment and a contribution rate that increases over time, finally will make employee inertia a good thing. We are encouraged by the survey.”