For release 10:00 A.M. (EDT) WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 2012 USDL-12-1380
Technical information:
(202) 691-6199 NCSinfo@bls.gov http://www.bls.gov/ebs
Media contact:
(202) 691-5902 PressOffice@bls.gov
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS IN THE UNITED STATES - MARCH 2012
Access to employer-provided benefits was greater in medium and large private industry establishments
than in small establishments in March 2012, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Access,
or availability of a benefit, was 57 percent for medical care benefits in small establishments (those with
fewer than 100 employees), compared with 89 percent in large establishments (those with 500 employees
or more). In private industry, retirement benefits were available to 50 percent of workers in small
establishments, 79 percent of workers in medium size establishments (those employing between 100 and
499 workers), and 86 percent of workers in large establishments. (See chart 1.)
Paid leave benefits followed a similar pattern. The difference was more pronounced in the availability of
paid sick leave, which was offered to 52 percent of workers in small establishments and 82 percent in
large establishments. Paid holidays and paid vacation were available to 69 percent of workers in small
establishments and 91 and 90 percent, respectively, to workers in large establishments. (See chart 2.)
These data are from the National Compensation Survey (NCS), which provides comprehensive measures
of compensation cost trends and incidence and provisions of employee benefit plans.
Employee and employer shares of medical premiums did not vary significantly by establishment size for
single coverage, but did for family coverage. On average, small establishments assumed 63 percent of
the cost of family coverage, whereas large establishments paid for 77 percent of the cost of family
medical plans. (See tables 3 and 4.)
Additional findings include:
* In private industry, access to benefits varied by several worker and establishment characteristics,
including occupational group, and work schedule. Medical care benefits were offered to 41
percent of workers in service occupations and 87 percent of workers in management,
professional, and related occupations. These benefits were offered to 24 percent of part-time
workers and 86 percent of full-time workers. (See table 2.)
* In state and local government, full- and part-time status was an important factor in benefit access
among workers. Full-time workers in state and local government had a high rate of access to
employer-provided benefits. Retirement and medical benefits were offered to 99 percent of full-
time workers and paid sick leave to 98 percent. (See tables 1, 2, and 6.)
* Participation and take-up rates were typically higher in state and local government than in private
industry. For example, 84 percent of state and local government workers participated in
retirement benefits, compared with 48 percent of private industry workers. For retirement
benefits, the take-up rate was 95 percent for state and local government workers, compared with
only 75 percent for private industry workers. Employees were considered participating in a plan
if they paid any required contributions and fulfilled any applicable service requirements. Take-up
rates are the percentage of workers with access to a plan that participate in the plan.
(See table 1.)
* State and local government employers paid a greater share of medical premiums than private
industry employers. For single coverage, 87 percent of the total premium was assumed by
employers in state and local governments, compared with 79 percent in private industry. For
family premiums, the corresponding figures were 71 and 68 percent, respectively.
(See tables 3 and 4.)
More information can be obtained by calling (202) 691-6199, sending e-mail to NCSinfo@bls.gov, or by
visiting the BLS Internet site, http://www.bls.gov/ebs/home.htm.
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NOTE
More information will be published in early fall, including March 2012 data for civilian, private industry,
and state and local government workers on the incidence and provisions of health care benefits,
retirement benefits, life insurance, short-term and long-term disability benefits, paid holidays and
vacations, and other selected benefits.
In addition, new editions of Beyond the Numbers: Pay and Benefits will be published featuring the latest
benefits data. Beyond the Numbers: Pay and Benefits, a new BLS publication replacing Program
Perspectives, brings together employee benefits information from various National Compensation Survey
publications into one convenient and easy-to-read format. For the latest benefit publications, see:
http://www.bls.gov/ebs.
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