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Data and Research July 24, 2015
Two in Three Private Workers Offered Retirement Plan
The Bureau of Labor Statistics released its March National
Compensation Survey findings.
Reported by Lee Barney
Fully two-thirds (66%) of private industry workers were
offered a retirement savings plan in March, the Bureau of Labor Statistics
found in its National Compensation Survey. Among workers in the lowest wage
category, the 10th percentile, only 31% had access to a retirement plan.
By contrast, among those in the highest wage category, the 90th percentile,
88% had access to a retirement plan.
In state and local government, 99% of full-time workers had access to
retirement and medical care benefits, and 98% were offered paid sick leave. For
part-time workers in state and local government, 39% had access to retirement
benefits, 24% to medical benefits and 42% to paid sick leave. Among state and
local government workers in the lowest wage category, 61% had access to
retirement benefits, versus 98% of workers in the highest wage category.
As to what percentage of medical coverage premiums employers required their workers to pay, among private industry nonunion companies, the single coverage requirement was 23%, and the family coverage requirement was 35%. For union shops, the single coverage requirement was 13% and for family coverage, it was 16%.
Paid holidays were offered to 90% of full-time and 37% of
part-time workers in private industries. In state and local government, 74% of
full-time and 30% of part-time workers had such access.
Access to benefits differed widely among occupational groups, the Bureau of
Labor Statistics said. Eighty-seven percent of workers in management and
professional jobs in private industries had access to medical care, compared to
41% of those in service occupations. In state and local government, the figures
were 89% and 82%, respectively.
Among companies with fewer than 50 employees, 53% of civilian workers were
offered medical coverage, but for those employing 500 workers or more, that
jumped to 90%.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics said its benefits survey represented 131 million civilian workers. Of this number, 112 million were private industry workers and 19 million were state and local government workers.