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Two-thirds of wage and salary workers could take paid leave in 2017–18, up from 2011

September 06, 2019

Sixty-six percent of wage and salary workers were able to take paid leave from their jobs in 2017–18, up from 60 percent in 2011. The percentage of women with access to paid leave increased from 58 percent in 2011 to 65 percent in 2017–18. The percentage of men with access to paid leave increased from 62 percent to 67 percent over the same period.

Percent of wage and salary workers with access to paid leave by sex, 2011 and 2017–18

Characteristic

2011

2017–18

Total

60% 66%

Men

62 67

Women

58 65

The gains in access to paid leave between 2011 and 2017–18 were widespread across groups of workers. These groups include men and women, Hispanics and non-Hispanics, workers with higher levels of education, parents with children in their household and workers who did not have children in their household, and full-time workers.

Change in access to paid leave between 2011 and 2017–18

Characteristic

Percentage point change

Upper bound of 90-percent
confidence interval

Lower bound of 90-percent
confidence interval

Total, 15 years and over

5.8 7.4 4.2

Men

4.9 7.1 2.7

Women

6.7 8.9 4.5

White

6.1 7.9 4.3

Black or African American

1.7 5.8 -2.4

Asian

6.7 13.7 -0.3

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

6.3 10.6 2.0

Non-Hispanic or Latino

6.4 8.1 4.7

Less than a high school diploma

3.9 10.7 -2.9

High school graduates, no college

1.5 4.8 -1.8

Some college or associate degree

3.8 6.9 0.7

Bachelor's degree and higher

4.9 7.0 2.8

Parent of a household child under 18

5.2 7.6 2.8

Not a parent of a household child under 18

6.2 8.1 4.3

Full-time workers

4.3 6.0 2.6

Part-time workers

0.6 3.6 -2.4

Note: Estimates by educational attainment are for people age 25 and older.

These data are from the American Time Use Survey. To learn more, see “Access to and Use of Leave — 2017–2018 Data from the American Time Use Survey.” In the second chart, the 90-percent confidence interval represents the symmetric range of values around the estimate. This range means there is a 90-percent probability that the actual change is within that range of values. If the change is statistically significant, the light blue bar does not cross the zero line. Estimates by educational attainment are for people age 25 and older.

SUGGESTED CITATION

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, The Economics Daily, Two-thirds of wage and salary workers could take paid leave in 2017–18, up from 2011 at https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2019/two-thirds-of-wage-and-salary-workers-could-take-paid-leave-in-2017-18-up-from-2011.htm (visited May 03, 2024).

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