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Economic News Release
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Employee Benefits in the United States News Release

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


(NOTE: Some estimates that include access to paid sick leave benefits were corrected in 
the BLS database on December 7, 2017. For additional information about this correction,
see www.bls.gov/bls/errata/ebs-errata-07212017.htm.)


                          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. 


_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
                                                 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.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


                                             TECHNICAL NOTE


Data in this release are from the National Compensation Survey (NCS), conducted by the U.S. 
Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This release contains March 2012 data on 
civilian, private industry, and state and local government workers in the United States. Under the NCS 
program, information on the incidence and provision of benefits is published in several stages. This news 
release provides data on the incidence of (access to and participation in) selected benefits and the share 
of premiums paid by employers and employees for medical care. An extensive number of tables on the 
incidence of selected benefits will be available in the annual bulletin to be published in early fall, 2012. 
Previous publications containing information on employee benefits for private industry and state and 
local government workers are available on the BLS website http://www.bls.gov/ebs.

Calculation details

Averages for occupations within an establishment were used to produce estimates for average hourly pay 
within the six earnings percentiles:  Lowest 10 percent, lowest 25 percent, second 25 percent, third 25 
percent, highest 25 percent, and highest 10 percent.  The percentiles are computed using earnings 
reported for individual workers in sampled establishment jobs and their scheduled hours of work.  The 
categories are based on the average wage for each occupation surveyed, which may include workers with 
earnings both above and below the threshold. For the calculation of percentile estimates, the individual 
worker hourly earnings are appropriately weighted and then arrayed from lowest to highest.

The published 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentiles designate position in the earnings distribution 
within each published occupation. At the 50th percentile, the median, half of the hours are paid the same 
as or more than the rate shown in the data tables, and half are paid the same as or less than the rate 
shown. At the 25th percentile, one-fourth of the hours are paid the same as or less than the rate shown.  
At the 75th percentile, one-fourth are paid the same as or more than the rate shown. The 10th and 90th 
percentiles follow the same logic.  The percentile values are based on wages published in the bulletin 
National Compensation Survey: Occupational Earnings in the United States, 2010 (Bulletin 2753).  
Values corresponding to the percentiles used in the tables are as follows:


________________________________________________________________________________________________
    Characteristics                                    Hourly wage percentiles
                                          10         25       50 (median)       75        90
Civilian workers                        $8.50      $11.17       $16.73        $26.25    $39.33
Private industry workers                $8.25      $10.69       $15.87        $24.81    $37.89
State and local government             $11.77      $15.52       $22.27        $33.01    $45.31
________________________________________________________________________________________________


The tables on employer and employee medical premiums (tables 3 and 4) include participants in all 
medical plans, with calculations for both single and family coverage. The calculations are not based on 
actual decisions regarding medical coverage made by employees within the occupations. Rather, the 
premium calculations are based on the assumption that all employees in the occupation have identical 
coverage.

Medical care

Medical care plans provide services or payments for services rendered in the hospital or by a qualified 
medical care provider.

Take-up rates

Take-up rates are the percentage of workers with access to a plan who participate in the plan. They are 
computed by using the number of workers participating in a plan divided by the number of workers with 
access to the plan, multiplied by 100, and rounded to the nearest one percent. Since the computation of 
take-up rates is based on the number of workers collected rather than rounded percentage estimates, the 
take-up rates in the tables may not equal the ratio of participation to access estimates.

Leave benefits for teachers

Primary, secondary, and special education teachers typically have a work schedule of 37 or 38 weeks per 
year. Because of this work schedule, they are generally not offered vacation or holidays. In many cases, 
the time off during winter and spring breaks during the school year is not considered vacation days for 
the purposes of this survey.

Survey scope

The March 2012 NCS benefits survey represented about 123 million civilian workers; of this number, 
about 104 million were private industry workers and 19 million, state and local government workers (see 
Appendix table 2).  

Survey response

The March 2012 benefits survey included a sample of 12,545 establishments.  The definitions in 
Appendix table 1 are as follows:

Responding.  The establishment provided information on at least one usable occupation. An occupation 
is classified as usable if the following data are present: earnings, occupational characteristics (full- vs. 
part-time schedule, union vs. nonunion status, and time vs. incentive pay type), and work schedule.

Refused or unable to provide data.  The establishment did not provide earnings, occupational 
characteristics, and work schedule data for any occupation.

Out of business or not in survey scope.  The establishment is no longer in operation. Establishments not in 
the survey scope include farm and private households, the self-employed, the Federal government, and 
locations of an establishment that are not in the sampled area. Also excluded are establishments with no 
workers within the survey scope. For example, an establishment where all the workers are also owners 
would be excluded.


Obtaining information

For research articles on employee benefits, see the Monthly Labor Review or Compensation and Working 
Conditions Online at the BLS Web sites http://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/home.htm and 
http://www.bls.gov/opub/cwc/home.htm. For further technical information, see Chapter 8, "National 
Compensation Measures," of the BLS Handbook of Methods at: 
http://www.bls.gov/opub/hom/pdf/homch8.pdf and http://www.bls.gov/opub/hom/homch8_a.htm.

 Table 1. Retirement benefits:(1) Access, participation, and take-up rates,(2) National Compensation Survey, March
 2012

 (All workers = 100 percent)
                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                    
                                    Civilian(3)                 Private industry         State and local government 
                                                                                                                    
      Characteristics                                                                                               
                             Access  Particip-  Take-up    Access  Particip-  Take-up    Access  Particip-  Take-up 
                                       ation      rate               ation      rate               ation      rate  
                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                    
 All workers..............     68        54        79        65        48        75        89        84        95   
                                                                                                                    
  Worker characteristics                                                                                            
                                                                                                                    
 Management, professional,                                                                                          
 and related..............     83        74        89        79        68        86        91        86        95   
   Management, business,                                                                                            
   and financial..........     84        76        91        83        74        90        –         –         –    
   Professional and                                                                                                 
   related................     82        72        88        78        65        84        91        86        95   
     Teachers.............     88        83        94        –         –         –         91        87        96   
       Primary, secondary,                                                                                          
       and special                                                                                                  
       education school                                                                                             
       teachers...........     97        93        96        –         –         –         99        96        97   
     Registered nurses....     82        69        84        –         –         –         –         –         –    
 Service..................     47        29        63        40        21        51        83        79        95   
   Protective service.....     76        60        78        56        22        40        91        87        96   
 Sales and office.........     71        54        76        69        51        74        89        85        95   
   Sales and related......     67        42        63        67        41        62        –         –         –    
   Office and                                                                                                       
   administrative support      73        61        83        70        57        81        90        86        96   
 Natural resources,                                                                                                 
 construction, and                                                                                                  
 maintenance..............     68        55        81        65        51        78        95        90        95   
   Construction,                                                                                                    
   extraction, farming,                                                                                             
   fishing, and forestry..     65        52        80        61        46        76        –         –         –    
   Installation,                                                                                                    
   maintenance, and repair     71        58        81        69        55        80        –         –         –    
 Production,                                                                                                        
 transportation, and                                                                                                
 material moving..........     67        52        77        66        50        76        87        82        95   
   Production.............     69        54        78        69        54        78        –         –         –    
   Transportation and                                                                                               
   material moving........     65        49        75        64        47        73        –         –         –    
                                                                                                                    
 Full time................     78        65        83        74        59        80        99        94        95   
 Part time................     38        21        54        38        19        50        39        35        90   
                                                                                                                    
 Union....................     95        88        93        92        85        92        97        92        95   
 Nonunion.................     64        48        75        62        45        72        83        78        95   
                                                                                                                    
 Average wage within the                                                                                            
 following categories:(4)                                                                                           
   Lowest 25 percent......     41        21        51        38        17        45        73        69        94   
     Lowest 10 percent....     30        10        33        29         8        28        59        55        93   
   Second 25 percent......     70        52        75        65        46        70        93        88        95   
   Third 25 percent.......     79        67        85        75        61        82        94        89        94   
   Highest 25 perecent....     88        80        91        85        75        89        98        94        96   
     Highest 10 percent...     90        83        92        86        78        91        98        94        96   
                                                                                                                    
       Establishment                                                                                                
     characteristics                                                                                                
                                                                                                                    
 Goods-producing                                                                                                    
 industries...............     75        61        82        74        61        81        –         –         –    
                                                                                                                    
 Service-providing                                                                                                  
 industries...............     67        53        79        63        46        74        89        84        95   
   Education and health                                                                                             
   services...............     77        66        85        69        54        78        90        85        94   
     Educational services      86        80        93        71        60        84        91        86        95   
       Elementary and                                                                                               
       secondary schools..     91        86        95        –         –         –         92        88        96   
       Junior colleges,                                                                                             
       colleges, and                                                                                                
       universities.......     87        78        90        90        77        87        86        78        91   
     Health care and                                                                                                
     social assistance....     70        55        78        69        53        77        88        81        91   
       Hospitals..........     90        77        86        –         –         –         95        85        89   
   Public administration..     90        86        95        –         –         –         90        86        95   
                                                                                                                    
 1 to 99 workers..........     51        36        70        50        34        68        77        73        95   
   1 to 49 workers........     47        33        70        46        32        69        69        66        96   
   50 to 99 workers.......     65        45        70        63        42        67        89        84        95   
 100 workers or more......     84        71        84        82        65        80        91        86        95   
   100 to 499 workers.....     80        61        77        79        58        74        87        83        96   
   500 workers or more....     89        80        91        86        76        88        92        87        94   
                                                                                                                    
     Geographic areas                                                                                               
                                                                                                                    
 New England..............     69        54        79        66        50        76        84        79        95   
 Middle Atlantic..........     69        56        82        65        51        79        91        84        92   
 East North Central.......     71        57        81        69        54        78        85        81        96   
 West North Central.......     72        57        79        68        52        76        91        83        91   
 South Atlantic...........     68        51        75        64        45        70        90        83        92   
 East South Central.......     72        57        79        66        47        72        92        90        97   
 West South Central.......     68        52        77        64        46        72        88        86        98   
 Mountain.................     66        50        76        63        45        71        88        85        97   
 Pacific..................     64        53        83        59        47        78        91        88        97   

   1 Includes defined benefit pension plans and defined contribution retirement plans. Workers are considered as
 having access or as participating if they have access to or are participating in at least one of these plan types.
   2 The take-up rate is an estimate of the percentage of workers with access to a plan who participate in the plan,
 rounded for presentation. See Technical Note for more details.
   3 Includes workers in the private nonfarm economy except those in private households, and workers in the public
 sector, except the federal government. See Technical Note for further explanation.
   4 The percentile groupings are based on the average wage for each occupation surveyed, which may include workers
 both above and below the threshold. The percentile values are based on the estimates published in the "National
 Compensation Survey: Occupational Earnings in the United States, 2008." See Technical Note for more details.
 
 NOTE: Dash indicates no workers in this category or data did not meet publication criteria. For definitions of
 major plans, key provisions, and related terms, see the "Glossary of Employee Benefit Terms" at 
 www.bls.gov/ncs/ebs/glossary20112012.htm.

 Table 2. Medical care benefits: Access, participation, and take-up rates,(1) National Compensation Survey, March
 2012

 (All workers = 100 percent)
                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                    
                                    Civilian(2)                 Private industry         State and local government 
                                                                                                                    
      Characteristics                                                                                               
                             Access  Particip-  Take-up    Access  Particip-  Take-up    Access  Particip-  Take-up 
                                       ation      rate               ation      rate               ation      rate  
                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                    
 All workers..............     73        54        74        70        51        72        87        73        84   
                                                                                                                    
  Worker characteristics                                                                                            
                                                                                                                    
 Management, professional,                                                                                          
 and related..............     88        69        78        87        67        76        89        74        83   
   Management, business,                                                                                            
   and financial..........     93        73        78        94        72        77        –         –         –    
   Professional and                                                                                                 
   related................     86        67        78        84        64        76        89        73        82   
     Teachers.............     86        70        81        –         –         –         88        72        82   
       Primary, secondary,                                                                                          
       and special                                                                                                  
       education school                                                                                             
       teachers...........     97        79        81        –         –         –         98        80        82   
     Registered nurses....     82        64        77        –         –         –         –         –         –    
 Service..................     47        32        68        41        25        62        81        69        85   
   Protective service.....     68        56        83        39        28        71        89        77        87   
 Sales and office.........     73        52        71        72        50        70        87        73        84   
   Sales and related......     63        42        67        63        42        67        –         –         –    
   Office and                                                                                                       
   administrative support      79        58        73        78        56        71        87        73        83   
 Natural resources,                                                                                                 
 construction, and                                                                                                  
 maintenance..............     78        60        76        77        57        75        95        83        87   
   Construction,                                                                                                    
   extraction, farming,                                                                                             
   fishing, and forestry..     72        57        78        70        53        76        –         –         –    
   Installation,                                                                                                    
   maintenance, and repair     84        62        75        83        61        73        –         –         –    
 Production,                                                                                                        
 transportation, and                                                                                                
 material moving..........     76        57        76        75        57        76        83        70        84   
   Production.............     82        64        78        82        64        77        –         –         –    
   Transportation and                                                                                               
   material moving........     69        51        74        69        50        73        –         –         –    
                                                                                                                    
 Full time................     88        67        76        86        64        74        99        83        84   
 Part time................     24        13        56        24        13        54        24        17        71   
                                                                                                                    
 Union....................     95        79        83        94        78        83        95        79        83   
 Nonunion.................     69        50        72        67        48        71        80        68        84   
                                                                                                                    
 Average wage within the                                                                                            
 following categories:(3)                                                                                           
   Lowest 25 percent......     38        22        59        34        19        57        68        55        81   
     Lowest 10 percent....     21        11        51        19         9        50        54        43        79   
   Second 25 percent......     77        55        72        74        51        69        91        78        86   
   Third 25 percent.......     87        68        78        86        65        76        93        79        85   
   Highest 25 perecent....     93        75        80        92        73        79        97        80        83   
     Highest 10 percent...     95        76        80        93        74        79        97        82        84   
                                                                                                                    
       Establishment                                                                                                
     characteristics                                                                                                
                                                                                                                    
 Goods-producing                                                                                                    
 industries...............     86        67        78        86        67        78        –         –         –    
                                                                                                                    
 Service-providing                                                                                                  
 industries...............     70        52        74        67        47        71        87        73        84   
   Education and health                                                                                             
   services...............     80        60        75        76        53        70        88        72        82   
     Educational services      86        69        80        81        59        74        88        71        81   
       Elementary and                                                                                               
       secondary schools..     88        70        79        –         –         –         89        71        80   
       Junior colleges,                                                                                             
       colleges, and                                                                                                
       universities.......     86        71        82        90        68        76        84        73        86   
     Health care and                                                                                                
     social assistance....     76        54        71        75        52        69        88        73        84   
       Hospitals..........     89        68        77        –         –         –         94        79        84   
   Public administration..     88        77        87        –         –         –         88        77        87   
                                                                                                                    
 1 to 99 workers..........     58        41        72        57        41        71        73        63        87   
   1 to 49 workers........     54        38        71        54        38        70        64        56        88   
   50 to 99 workers.......     70        51        72        69        49        71        87        74        85   
 100 workers or more......     86        66        76        85        63        74        89        74        83   
   100 to 499 workers.....     82        60        73        82        59        72        85        72        84   
   500 workers or more....     90        71        79        89        68        76        90        75        83   
                                                                                                                    
     Geographic areas                                                                                               
                                                                                                                    
 New England..............     74        54        72        72        51        71        87        68        78   
 Middle Atlantic..........     73        57        78        71        53        75        86        77        89   
 East North Central.......     73        54        73        72        52        72        80        62        78   
 West North Central.......     71        52        74        68        48        71        85        71        84   
 South Atlantic...........     72        52        72        69        47        69        90        75        84   
 East South Central.......     77        59        77        72        52        72        92        85        92   
 West South Central.......     72        53        74        69        50        72        90        73        80   
 Mountain.................     71        50        71        68        48        70        87        70        80   
 Pacific..................     72        56        78        69        53        76        88        75        85   

   1 The take-up rate is an estimate of the percentage of workers with access to a plan who participate in the plan,
 rounded for presentation. See Technical Note for more details.
   2 Includes workers in the private nonfarm economy except those in private households, and workers in the public
 sector, except the federal government. See Technical Note for further explanation.
   3 The percentile groupings are based on the average wage for each occupation surveyed, which may include workers
 both above and below the threshold. The percentile values are based on the estimates published in the "National
 Compensation Survey: Occupational Earnings in the United States, 2008." See Technical Note for more details.
 
 NOTE: Dash indicates no workers in this category or data did not meet publication criteria. For definitions of
 major plans, key provisions, and related terms, see the "Glossary of Employee Benefit Terms" at 
 www.bls.gov/ncs/ebs/glossary20112012.htm.

Table 3. Medical plans: Share of premiums paid by employer and employee for single
 coverage,  National Compensation Survey, March 2012

 (In percent)
                                                                                      
                                                                                      
                               Civilian(1)       Private industry    State and local  
                                                                        government    
                                                                                      
      Characteristics                                                                 
                            Employer  Employee  Employer  Employee  Employer  Employee
                            share of  share of  share of  share of  share of  share of
                            premium   premium   premium   premium   premium   premium 
                                                                                      
                                                                                      
 All workers participating                                                            
 in single coverage                                                                   
 medical plans............     81        19        79        21        87        13   
                                                                                      
  Worker characteristics                                                              
                                                                                      
 Management, professional,                                                            
 and related..............     83        17        81        19        87        13   
   Management, business,                                                              
   and financial..........     81        19        80        20        –         –    
   Professional and                                                                   
   related................     83        17        81        19        87        13   
     Teachers.............     86        14        –         –         87        13   
       Primary, secondary,                                                            
       and special                                                                    
       education school                                                               
       teachers...........     87        13        –         –         87        13   
     Registered nurses....     80        20        –         –         –         –    
 Service..................     80        20        77        23        88        12   
   Protective service.....     85        15        77        23        88        12   
 Sales and office.........     79        21        78        22        88        12   
   Sales and related......     74        26        74        26        –         –    
   Office and                                                                         
   administrative support      81        19        79        21        88        12   
 Natural resources,                                                                   
 construction, and                                                                    
 maintenance..............     82        18        81        19        88        12   
   Construction,                                                                      
   extraction, farming,                                                               
   fishing, and forestry..     84        16        83        17        –         –    
   Installation,                                                                      
   maintenance, and repair     81        19        80        20        –         –    
 Production,                                                                          
 transportation, and                                                                  
 material moving..........     81        19        80        20        87        13   
   Production.............     80        20        80        20        –         –    
   Transportation and                                                                 
   material moving........     81        19        80        20        –         –    
                                                                                      
 Full time................     81        19        80        20        87        13   
 Part time................     75        25        74        26        83        17   
                                                                                      
 Union....................     88        12        88        12        88        12   
 Nonunion.................     79        21        78        22        87        13   
                                                                                      
 Average wage within the                                                              
 following categories:(2)                                                             
   Lowest 25 percent......     76        24        75        25        87        13   
     Lowest 10 percent....     75        25        72        28        88        12   
   Second 25 percent......     80        20        78        22        88        12   
   Third 25 percent.......     82        18        80        20        88        12   
   Highest 25 perecent....     83        17        81        19        86        14   
     Highest 10 percent...     83        17        82        18        89        11   
                                                                                      
       Establishment                                                                  
     characteristics                                                                  
                                                                                      
 Goods-producing                                                                      
 industries...............     82        18        82        18        –         –    
                                                                                      
 Service-providing                                                                    
 industries...............     81        19        79        21        87        13   
   Education and health                                                               
   services...............     83        17        80        20        87        13   
     Educational services      85        15        79        21        87        13   
       Elementary and                                                                 
       secondary schools..     86        14        –         –         87        13   
       Junior colleges,                                                               
       colleges, and                                                                  
       universities.......     85        15        79        21        88        12   
     Health care and                                                                  
     social assistance....     81        19        80        20        86        14   
       Hospitals..........     82        18        –         –         86        14   
   Public administration..     88        12        –         –         88        12   
                                                                                      
 1 to 99 workers..........     80        20        79        21        91         9   
   1 to 49 workers........     80        20        79        21        91         9   
   50 to 99 workers.......     79        21        78        22        91         9   
 100 workers or more......     82        18        80        20        87        13   
   100 to 499 workers.....     80        20        79        21        88        12   
   500 workers or more....     83        17        81        19        87        13   
                                                                                      
     Geographic areas                                                                 
                                                                                      
 New England..............     77        23        75        25        84        16   
 Middle Atlantic..........     83        17        81        19        89        11   
 East North Central.......     81        19        80        20        89        11   
 West North Central.......     82        18        79        21        91         9   
 South Atlantic...........     80        20        78        22        87        13   
 East South Central.......     81        19        78        22        87        13   
 West South Central.......     81        19        80        20        86        14   
 Mountain.................     81        19        79        21        88        12   
 Pacific..................     82        18        81        19        86        14   

   1 Includes workers in the private nonfarm economy except those in private
 households, and workers in the public sector, except the federal government. See
 Technical Note for further explanation.
   2 The percentile groupings are based on the average wage for each occupation
 surveyed, which may include workers both above and below the threshold. The
 percentile values are based on the estimates published in the "National Compensation
 Survey: Occupational Earnings in the United States, 2008." See Technical Note for
 more details.
 
 NOTE: Dash indicates no workers in this category or data did not meet publication
 criteria. For definitions of major plans, key provisions, and related terms, see
 the "Glossary of Employee Benefit Terms" at www.bls.gov/ncs/ebs/glossary20112012.htm.

Table 4. Medical plans: Share of premiums paid by employer and employee for family
 coverage,  National Compensation Survey, March 2012

 (In percent)
                                                                                      
                                                                                      
                               Civilian(1)       Private industry    State and local  
                                                                        government    
                                                                                      
      Characteristics                                                                 
                            Employer  Employee  Employer  Employee  Employer  Employee
                            share of  share of  share of  share of  share of  share of
                            premium   premium   premium   premium   premium   premium 
                                                                                      
                                                                                      
 All workers participating                                                            
 in family coverage                                                                   
 medical plans............     69        31        68        32        71        29   
                                                                                      
  Worker characteristics                                                              
                                                                                      
 Management, professional,                                                            
 and related..............     70        30        70        30        69        31   
   Management, business,                                                              
   and financial..........     70        30        69        31        –         –    
   Professional and                                                                   
   related................     70        30        71        29        68        32   
     Teachers.............     66        34        –         –         67        33   
       Primary, secondary,                                                            
       and special                                                                    
       education school                                                               
       teachers...........     65        35        –         –         66        34   
     Registered nurses....     71        29        –         –         –         –    
 Service..................     65        35        61        39        73        27   
   Protective service.....     75        25        63        37        77        23   
 Sales and office.........     67        33        67        33        73        27   
   Sales and related......     64        36        64        36        –         –    
   Office and                                                                         
   administrative support      69        31        68        32        72        28   
 Natural resources,                                                                   
 construction, and                                                                    
 maintenance..............     69        31        69        31        72        28   
   Construction,                                                                      
   extraction, farming,                                                               
   fishing, and forestry..     70        30        69        31        –         –    
   Installation,                                                                      
   maintenance, and repair     69        31        69        31        –         –    
 Production,                                                                          
 transportation, and                                                                  
 material moving..........     73        27        73        27        70        30   
   Production.............     74        26        73        27        –         –    
   Transportation and                                                                 
   material moving........     71        29        72        28        –         –    
                                                                                      
 Full time................     69        31        69        31        71        29   
 Part time................     66        34        66        34        69        31   
                                                                                      
 Union....................     80        20        83        17        78        22   
 Nonunion.................     66        34        66        34        63        37   
                                                                                      
 Average wage within the                                                              
 following categories:(2)                                                             
   Lowest 25 percent......     60        40        60        40        63        37   
     Lowest 10 percent....     60        40        58        42        56        44   
   Second 25 percent......     67        33        66        34        73        27   
   Third 25 percent.......     70        30        68        32        71        29   
   Highest 25 perecent....     72        28        72        28        73        27   
     Highest 10 percent...     74        26        73        27        79        21   
                                                                                      
       Establishment                                                                  
     characteristics                                                                  
                                                                                      
 Goods-producing                                                                      
 industries...............     74        26        74        26        –         –    
                                                                                      
 Service-providing                                                                    
 industries...............     68        32        67        33        71        29   
   Education and health                                                               
   services...............     66        34        65        35        67        33   
     Educational services      66        34        64        36        66        34   
       Elementary and                                                                 
       secondary schools..     64        36        –         –         64        36   
       Junior colleges,                                                               
       colleges, and                                                                  
       universities.......     71        29        69        31        72        28   
     Health care and                                                                  
     social assistance....     67        33        66        34        72        28   
       Hospitals..........     74        26        –         –         73        27   
   Public administration..     77        23        –         –         77        23   
                                                                                      
 1 to 99 workers..........     63        37        63        37        71        29   
   1 to 49 workers........     63        37        63        37        73        27   
   50 to 99 workers.......     64        36        63        37        68        32   
 100 workers or more......     72        28        73        27        71        29   
   100 to 499 workers.....     69        31        69        31        70        30   
   500 workers or more....     74        26        77        23        71        29   
                                                                                      
     Geographic areas                                                                 
                                                                                      
 New England..............     72        28        71        29        79        21   
 Middle Atlantic..........     75        25        72        28        87        13   
 East North Central.......     74        26        72        28        83        17   
 West North Central.......     70        30        70        30        69        31   
 South Atlantic...........     64        36        64        36        65        35   
 East South Central.......     62        38        66        34        55        45   
 West South Central.......     63        37        66        34        52        48   
 Mountain.................     67        33        67        33        63        37   
 Pacific..................     68        32        66        34        76        24   

   1 Includes workers in the private nonfarm economy except those in private
 households, and workers in the public sector, except the federal government. See
 Technical Note for further explanation.
   2 The percentile groupings are based on the average wage for each occupation
 surveyed, which may include workers both above and below the threshold. The
 percentile values are based on the estimates published in the "National Compensation
 Survey: Occupational Earnings in the United States, 2008." See Technical Note for
 more details.
 
 NOTE: Dash indicates no workers in this category or data did not meet publication
 criteria. For definitions of major plans, key provisions, and related terms, see the
 "Glossary of Employee Benefit Terms" at www.bls.gov/ncs/ebs/glossary20112012.htm.

Table 5. Life insurance benefits: Access, participation, and take-up rates,(1) National Compensation Survey, March
 2012

 (All workers = 100 percent)
                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                    
                                    Civilian(2)                 Private industry         State and local government 
                                                                                                                    
      Characteristics                                                                                               
                             Access  Particip-  Take-up    Access  Particip-  Take-up    Access  Particip-  Take-up 
                                       ation      rate               ation      rate               ation      rate  
                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                    
 All workers..............     61        59        97        57        56        97        79        77        98   
                                                                                                                    
  Worker characteristics                                                                                            
                                                                                                                    
 Management, professional,                                                                                          
 and related..............     78        77        98        78        77        99        80        78        97   
   Management, business,                                                                                            
   and financial..........     85        84        99        85        85        99        –         –         –    
   Professional and                                                                                                 
   related................     76        74        98        74        73        98        79        77        97   
     Teachers.............     75        74        97        –         –         –         78        76        97   
       Primary, secondary,                                                                                          
       and special                                                                                                  
       education school                                                                                             
       teachers...........     83        82        98        –         –         –         85        84        98   
     Registered nurses....     75        74        99        –         –         –         –         –         –    
 Service..................     36        34        95        29        27        94        75        74        98   
   Protective service.....     69        67        97        46        43        94        86        85        99   
 Sales and office.........     59        57        97        57        55        96        79        77        98   
   Sales and related......     47        44        94        47        44        94        –         –         –    
   Office and                                                                                                       
   administrative support      66        65        98        64        63        98        79        77        98   
 Natural resources,                                                                                                 
 construction, and                                                                                                  
 maintenance..............     62        60        96        59        56        96        90        89        99   
   Construction,                                                                                                    
   extraction, farming,                                                                                             
   fishing, and forestry..     55        52        95        50        47        95        –         –         –    
   Installation,                                                                                                    
   maintenance, and repair     69        66        97        67        64        96        –         –         –    
 Production,                                                                                                        
 transportation, and                                                                                                
 material moving..........     64        62        97        63        61        97        77        76        99   
   Production.............     70        68        97        70        68        97        –         –         –    
   Transportation and                                                                                               
   material moving........     57        56        97        56        54        96        –         –         –    
                                                                                                                    
 Full time................     76        74        97        73        71        97        90        88        98   
 Part time................     14        13        92        13        12        92        22        21        95   
                                                                                                                    
 Union....................     85        84        98        85        83        98        86        84        98   
 Nonunion.................     56        55        97        55        53        97        73        71        97   
                                                                                                                    
 Average wage within the                                                                                            
 following categories:(3)                                                                                           
   Lowest 25 percent......     26        24        92        22        20        91        62        60        98   
     Lowest 10 percent....     12        11        89        11        10        87        48        46        96   
   Second 25 percent......     63        61        97        60        57        96        83        81        98   
   Third 25 percent.......     74        73        98        72        70        98        84        83        98   
   Highest 25 perecent....     84        83        99        82        81        99        88        86        97   
     Highest 10 percent...     87        86        99        85        85        99        90        86        96   
                                                                                                                    
       Establishment                                                                                                
     characteristics                                                                                                
                                                                                                                    
 Goods-producing                                                                                                    
 industries...............     72        70        97        72        70        97        –         –         –    
                                                                                                                    
 Service-providing                                                                                                  
 industries...............     59        57        97        54        53        97        79        77        98   
   Education and health                                                                                             
   services...............     69        67        98        63        61        98        79        77        97   
     Educational services      76        74        98        67        66        99        79        77        97   
       Elementary and                                                                                               
       secondary schools..     77        75        98        –         –         –         78        76        98   
       Junior colleges,                                                                                             
       colleges, and                                                                                                
       universities.......     82        79        96        83        82        99        81        77        94   
     Health care and                                                                                                
     social assistance....     63        62        97        62        60        97        79        76        97   
       Hospitals..........     86        83        98        –         –         –         89        86        96   
   Public administration..     82        81        98        –         –         –         82        81        98   
                                                                                                                    
 1 to 99 workers..........     42        40        96        41        39        96        61        60        98   
   1 to 49 workers........     37        35        96        36        34        96        59        57        97   
   50 to 99 workers.......     58        56        96        57        55        96        65        64        98   
 100 workers or more......     78        76        98        77        75        98        82        80        98   
   100 to 499 workers.....     71        69        97        70        68        97        74        73        98   
   500 workers or more....     85        84        98        86        84        99        84        82        98   
                                                                                                                    
     Geographic areas                                                                                               
                                                                                                                    
 New England..............     63        62        97        62        61        98        73        68        93   
 Middle Atlantic..........     58        58        99        54        53        99        84        83        99   
 East North Central.......     65        63        97        63        62        98        79        75        95   
 West North Central.......     64        62        97        61        59        96        79        79        99   
 South Atlantic...........     60        58        97        56        54        96        83        81        98   
 East South Central.......     68        65        96        63        61        96        84        79        94   
 West South Central.......     63        60        96        60        57        95        76        75        98   
 Mountain.................     58        56        97        54        52        96        80        79        99   
 Pacific..................     54        53        98        50        49        98        72        71        99   

   1 The take-up rate is an estimate of the percentage of workers with access to a plan who participate in the plan,
 rounded for presentation. See Technical Note for more details.
   2 Includes workers in the private nonfarm economy except those in private households, and workers in the public
 sector, except the federal government. See Technical Note for further explanation.
   3 The percentile groupings are based on the average wage for each occupation surveyed, which may include workers
 both above and below the threshold. The percentile values are based on the estimates published in the "National
 Compensation Survey: Occupational Earnings in the United States, 2008." See Technical Note for more details.
 
 NOTE: Dash indicates no workers in this category or data did not meet publication criteria. For definitions of
 major plans, key provisions, and related terms, see the "Glossary of Employee Benefit Terms" at 
 www.bls.gov/ncs/ebs/glossary20112012.htm.

 Table 6. Selected paid leave benefits: Access, National Compensation Survey, March 2012

 (All workers = 100 percent)
                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                    
                                    Civilian(1)                 Private industry         State and local government 
                                                                                                                    
      Characteristics                                                                                               
                           Paid sick    Paid      Paid   Paid sick    Paid      Paid   Paid sick    Paid      Paid  
                             leave    vacation  holidays   leave    vacation  holidays   leave    vacation  holidays
                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                    
 All workers..............     66        74        76        61        77        77        89        59        67   
                                                                                                                    
  Worker characteristics                                                                                            
                                                                                                                    
 Management, professional,                                                                                          
 and related..............     86        75        79        84        87        89        90        43        55   
   Management, business,                                                                                            
   and financial..........     90        94        95        90        96        97        –         –         –    
   Professional and                                                                                                 
   related................     84        67        73        81        83        85        90        36        49   
     Teachers.............     85        16        34        –         –         –         88        12        30   
       Primary, secondary,                                                                                          
       and special                                                                                                  
       education school                                                                                             
       teachers...........     95        11        28        –         –         –         95         9        27   
     Registered nurses....     81        82        84        –         –         –         –         –         –    
 Service..................     47        59        56        40        56        53        85        75        78   
   Protective service.....     69        78        80        40        64        70        90        88        87   
 Sales and office.........     67        79        81        65        –         81        89        84        85   
   Sales and related......     52        67        70        52        67        69        –         –         –    
   Office and                                                                                                       
   administrative support      75        86        88        73        86        89        90        84        86   
 Natural resources,                                                                                                 
 construction, and                                                                                                  
 maintenance..............     57        83        83        53        82        82        95        95        96   
   Construction,                                                                                                    
   extraction, farming,                                                                                             
   fishing, and forestry..     45        74        75        39        72        73        –         –         –    
   Installation,                                                                                                    
   maintenance, and repair     68        91        91        65        90        90        –         –         –    
 Production,                                                                                                        
 transportation, and                                                                                                
 material moving..........     54        82        83        52        83        84        87        63        73   
   Production.............     54        90        91        54        90        91        –         –         –    
   Transportation and                                                                                               
   material moving........     53        73        76        51        75        77        –         –         –    
                                                                                                                    
 Full time................     79        87        –         75        91        90        98        67        74   
 Part time................     25        34        39        23        35        40        40        20        29   
                                                                                                                    
 Union....................     84        75        80        73        91        91        97        57        69   
 Nonunion.................     62        74        75        60        75        76        82        62        66   
                                                                                                                    
 Average wage within the                                                                                            
 following categories:(2)                                                                                           
   Lowest 25 percent......     32        51        52        29        49        50        75        55        62   
     Lowest 10 percent....     20        38        35        18        37        33        62        41        49   
   Second 25 percent......     68        82        84        64        83        84        93        84        87   
   Third 25 percent.......     79        89        –         75        90        90        93        69        76   
   Highest 25 perecent....     87        79        82        84        90        91        96        36        49   
     Highest 10 percent...     90        76        79        86        90        90        98        34        45   
                                                                                                                    
       Establishment                                                                                                
     characteristics                                                                                                
                                                                                                                    
 Goods-producing                                                                                                    
 industries...............     57        90        90        56        90        90        –         –         –    
                                                                                                                    
 Service-providing                                                                                                  
 industries...............     67        71        73        62        74        75        89        59        67   
   Education and health                                                                                             
   services...............     81        65        71        77        79        81        89        42        55   
     Educational services      87        41        53        79        59        65        89        36        50   
       Elementary and                                                                                               
       secondary schools..     90        27        42        –         –         –         90        27        42   
       Junior colleges,                                                                                             
       colleges, and                                                                                                
       universities.......     85        68        78        82        73        80        87        66        77   
     Health care and                                                                                                
     social assistance....     77        83        84        76        83        83        87        86        88   
       Hospitals..........     88        89        91        –         –         –         93        93        94   
   Public administration..     89        89        88        –         –         –         89        89        88   
                                                                                                                    
 1 to 99 workers..........     53        69        69        52        69        69        78        66        69   
   1 to 49 workers........     51        67        67        50        67        67        70        65        66   
   50 to 99 workers.......     57        75        75        55        75        76        90        67        73   
 100 workers or more......     77        79        82        73        86        87        90        58        67   
   100 to 499 workers.....     69        80        82        66        83        84        87        59        63   
   500 workers or more....     86        78        82        82        90        91        91        58        68   
                                                                                                                    
     Geographic areas                                                                                               
                                                                                                                    
 New England..............     70        72        72        67        76        75        86        48        54   
 Middle Atlantic..........     69        73        77        65        76        79        89        58        62   
 East North Central.......     62        74        77        58        78        79        85        53        65   
 West North Central.......     64        72        74        59        75        75        90        58        69   
 South Atlantic...........     65        76        77        60        78        77        92        66        77   
 East South Central.......     65        76        77        57        78        79        90        66        71   
 West South Central.......     67        75        77        64        79        81        85        52        54   
 Mountain.................     61        74        73        58        77        75        83        54        59   
 Pacific..................     67        72        73        63        72        73        91        67        73   

   1 Includes workers in the private nonfarm economy except those in private households, and workers in the public
 sector, except the federal government. See Technical Note for further explanation.
   2 The percentile groupings are based on the average wage for each occupation surveyed, which may include workers
 both above and below the threshold. The percentile values are based on the estimates published in the "National
 Compensation Survey: Occupational Earnings in the United States, 2008." See Technical Note for more details.
 
 NOTE: Dash indicates no workers in this category or data did not meet publication criteria. For definitions of
 major plans, key provisions, and related terms, see the "Glossary of Employee Benefit Terms" at 
 www.bls.gov/ncs/ebs/glossary20112012.htm.

Appendix table 1. Survey establishment response, National Compensation Survey, March 2012
                                                                                                  
                                                                                                  
     Establishments               Total              Private industry          State and local    
                                                                                 governments      
                                                                                                  
 Total in sampling                                                                                
 frame(1)..............        5,260,659                5,041,564                  219,095        
                                                                                                  
   Total in sample.....           12,545                   10,951                    1,594        
     Responding........            7,998                    6,618                    1,380        
     Refused or unable                                                                            
 to provide data.......            3,045                    2,850                      195        
     Out of business or                                                                           
 not in survey scope...            1,502                    1,483                       19        

   1 The list of establishments from which the survey sample was selected (sampling frame) was
 developed from State unemployment insurance reports and is based on the 2007 North American
 Industry Classification System (NAICS). For private industries, an establishment is usually a
 single physical location. For State and local governments, an establishment is defined as all
 locations of a government entity. 
 
   NOTE: Because of rounding, sums of individual items may not equal totals.

Appendix table 2. Number of workers(1) represented, National Compensation Survey, March
     2012
                                                                                             
                                                                                             
     Occupational group(2)     Civilian workers      Private industry      State and local   
                                                         workers          government workers 
                                                                                             
     All workers...........      122,742,800           103,882,000            18,860,800     
       Management,                                                                           
       professional, and                                                                     
       related.............       36,579,100            26,183,300            10,395,700     
         Management,                                                                         
         business, and                                                                       
         financial.........       10,377,700             8,817,400                –          
         Professional and                                                                    
         related...........       26,201,300            17,365,900             8,835,400     
           Teachers........        6,145,000                –                  4,952,800     
             Primary,                                                                        
             secondary, and                                                                  
             special                                                                         
             education                                                                       
             school                                                                          
             teachers......        4,120,500                –                  3,642,100     
           Registered                                                                        
           nurses..........        2,726,100                –                     –          
       Service.............       26,834,000            22,791,300             4,042,700     
         Protective service        3,121,000             1,299,800             1,821,200     
       Sales and office....       31,979,400            29,254,600             2,724,900     
         Sales and related        11,769,000            11,633,100                –          
         Office and                                                                          
         administrative                                                                      
         support...........       20,210,500            17,621,400             2,589,100     
       Natural resources,                                                                    
       construction, and                                                                     
       maintenance.........        9,179,400             8,252,300               927,200     
         Construction,                                                                       
         extraction,                                                                         
         farming, fishing,                                                                   
         and forestry......        4,378,200             3,867,000                –          
         Installation,                                                                       
         maintenance, and                                                                    
         repair............        4,801,200             4,385,200                –          
       Production,                                                                           
       transportation, and                                                                   
       material moving.....       18,170,800            17,400,500               770,300     
         Production........        8,818,100             8,705,000                –          
         Transportation and                                                                  
         material moving...        9,352,700             8,695,400                –          

       1 The number of workers represented by the survey are rounded to the nearest 100.
     Estimates of the number of workers provide a description of the size and composition of
     the labor force included in the survey. Estimates are not intended, however, for
     comparison to other statistical series to measure employment trends or levels.
       2 The 2000 Standard Occupational Classification system is used to classify workers.
     
     NOTE: Because of rounding, sums of individual items may not equal totals. Dashes
     indicate that no estimates for this characteristic are provided in this publication.

Last Modified Date: December 07, 2017