The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that in March 2025, 72% of private industry workers had access to retirement benefits, primarily through defined contribution plans, with access increasing significantly in larger firms—59% in small establishments versus 90% in those with 500 or more employees. Short-term disability, life insurance, and childcare benefits also showed higher availability in larger workplaces. Medical care plans were available to 72% of workers, with participation rates lower for part-time employees. Access to benefits varied by industry, wage level, work status, and region, with full-time workers and those in higher-wage jobs generally receiving more comprehensive coverage. Employers in the public sector often covered a larger share of premiums, and additional benefits like student loan assistance and wellness programs were unevenly distributed across industries and locations. The BLS writes:
Retirement benefits were available to 72 percent of private industry workers in March 2025, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Seventy percent of private industry workers had access to defined contribution plans and 14 percent had access to defined benefit plans. Among private industry workers, 59 percent of workers in establishments with less than 100 workers, 86 percent of workers in establishments with 100-499 workers, and 90 percent of workers in establishments with 500 workers or more had access to retirement benefits. Six percent of workers in establishments with less than 100 workers, 13 percent of workers in establishments with 100-499 workers, and 36 percent of workers in establishments with 500 workers or more had access to defined benefit plans. (See table 1.)
Thirty-one percent of private industry workers in establishments with less than 100 workers had access to short-term disability plans. Fifty-three percent of private industry workers in establishments with 100-499 workers and 68 percent of private industry workers in establishments with 500 workers or more had access to short-term disability plans. Forty-two percent of private industry workers in establishments with less than 100 workers had access to life insurance plans. Seventy-two percent of workers in establishments with 100-499 workers and 87 percent of workers in establishments with 500 workers or more had access to life insurance plans. (See table 5.)
Among private industry workers, childcare benefits were available to 13 percent of workers. Eight percent of workers in establishments with less than 100 workers, 10 percent of workers in establishments with 100-499 workers, and 30 percent of workers in establishments with 500 workers or more had access to childcare. Twenty-eight percent of workers in establishments with less than 100 workers had access to wellness programs. Employee assistance programs were available to 40 percent of workers in establishments with less than 100 workers. Six percent of workers in establishments with less than 100 workers had access to subsidized commuting.
Seventy-two percent of private industry workers had access to medical care plans and 45 percent of workers participated. Dental care was available to 30 percent of private industry workers in establishments with less than 100 workers, 50 percent of private industry workers in establishments with 100-499 workers, and 70 percent of private industry workers in establishments with 500 workers or more. Vision care benefits were available for 21 percent of workers in establishments with less than 100 workers, 34 percent of private industry workers in establishments with 100-499 workers, and 44 percent of private industry workers in establishments with 500 workers or more. (See table 2.)
Highlights of employer-sponsored benefits
Occupational group:
Access to nonproduction bonuses ranged from 37 percent for service occupations to 58 percent for management, professional, and related occupations among private industry workers. Six percent of state and local government teachers had access to subsidized commuting and 60 percent had access to wellness programs.Work status:
Eighty-nine percent of full-time civilian workers and 25 percent of part-time workers had access to medical care benefits. The take-up rate was 67 percent for full-time workers and 44 percent for part-time workers. Ninety-nine percent of full-time state and local government workers had access to retirement benefits and 88 percent participated, while 44 percent of part-time workers had access to retirement benefits and 38 percent participated. In the private industry, 87 percent of full-time workers had access to medical care benefits and the take-up rate was 65 percent. Twenty-five percent of part-time workers had access to these benefits and the take-up rate was 42 percent.Industry group:
Access to paid sick leave for private industry workers ranged from 55 percent for the leisure and hospitality industry to 97 percent for both the information industry and finance and insurance industry. Employers paid 89 percent of premiums for single coverage and 78 percent for family coverage among state and local government workers with medical care plans in public administration. The average flat monthly premium paid by employers was $748.60 for single coverage and $1,719.45 for family coverage.Average wage category:
Access to student loan repayment assistance ranged from 3 percent for the lowest 25 percent average wage category to 13 percent for the highest 25 percent average wage category among private industry workers. Access to healthcare flexible spending accounts for state and local government workers ranged from 62 percent for the lowest 25 percent average wage category to 74 percent for the highest 25 percent average wage category.Census area:
Life insurance access among state and local government workers was 81 percent in the West census area and 86 percent in the South census area. The take-up rate was 99 percent for West census area workers and 97 percent for South census area workers. Access to short-term disability plans was available to 35 percent of civilian workers in the South census area with a participation rate of 34 percent. Sixty-seven percent of civilian workers in the Northeast census area had access with a participation rate of 67 percent.
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