Employee Benefits in the United States Summary

For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Thursday, September 25, 2025                                        USDL-25-1464

Technical information:  (202) 691-6199  *  ncsinfo@bls.gov  *  www.bls.gov/ebs
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                        EMPLOYEE BENEFITS IN THE UNITED STATES – MARCH 2025
                        
Retirement benefits were available to 72 percent of private industry workers in March 2025, the Bureau of
Labor Statistics reported today. Seventy percent of private industry workers had access to defined
contribution plans and 14 percent had access to defined benefit plans. Among private industry workers, 59
percent of workers in establishments with less than 100 workers, 86 percent of workers in establishments
with 100-499 workers, and 90 percent of workers in establishments with 500 workers or more had access to
retirement benefits. Six percent of workers in establishments with less than 100 workers, 13 percent of
workers in establishments with 100-499 workers, and 36 percent of workers in establishments with 500
workers or more had access to defined benefit plans. (See table 1.)

Thirty-one percent of private industry workers in establishments with less than 100 workers had access to
short-term disability plans. Fifty-three percent of private industry workers in establishments with 100-499
workers and 68 percent of private industry workers in establishments with 500 workers or more had access to
short-term disability plans. Forty-two percent of private industry workers in establishments with less than
100 workers had access to life insurance plans. Seventy-two percent of workers in establishments with
100-499 workers and 87 percent of workers in establishments with 500 workers or more had access to life
insurance plans. (See table 5.)

Among private industry workers, childcare benefits were available to 13 percent of workers. Eight percent
of workers in establishments with less than 100 workers, 10 percent of workers in establishments with
100-499 workers, and 30 percent of workers in establishments with 500 workers or more had access to
childcare. Twenty-eight percent of workers in establishments with less than 100 workers had access to
wellness programs. Employee assistance programs were available to 40 percent of workers in establishments
with less than 100 workers. Six percent of workers in establishments with less than 100 workers had access
to subsidized commuting.
   
Seventy-two percent of private industry workers had access to medical care plans and 45 percent of workers
participated. Dental care was available to 30 percent of private industry workers in establishments with
less than 100 workers, 50 percent of private industry workers in establishments with 100-499 workers, and
70 percent of private industry workers in establishments with 500 workers or more. Vision care benefits
were available for 21 percent of workers in establishments with less than 100 workers, 34 percent of
private industry workers in establishments with 100-499 workers, and 44 percent of private industry workers
in establishments with 500 workers or more. (See table 2.)

Highlights of employer-sponsored benefits

Occupational group
	* Access to nonproduction bonuses ranged from 37 percent for service occupations to 58 percent for
	  management, professional, and related occupations among private industry workers
	* Six percent of state and local government teachers had access to subsidized commuting and 60
	  percent had access to wellness programs.

Work status
	* Eighty-nine percent of full-time civilian workers and 25 percent of part-time workers had access 
	  to medical care benefits. The take-up rate was 67 percent for full-time workers and 44 percent for
	  part-time workers.
	* Ninety-nine percent of full-time state and local government workers had access to retirement
	  benefits and 88 percent participated, while 44 percent of part-time workers had access to
	  retirement benefits and 38 percent participated.
	* In the private industry, 87 percent of full-time workers had access to medical care benefits and
	  the take-up rate was 65 percent. Twenty-five percent of part-time workers had access to these
	  benefits and the take-up rate was 42 percent.

Industry group
	* Access to paid sick leave for private industry workers ranged from 55 percent for the leisure and
	  hospitality industry to 97 percent for both the information industry and finance and insurance 
	  industry.
	* Employers paid 89 percent of premiums for single coverage and 78 percent for family coverage 
	  among state and local government workers with medical care plans in public administration. 
	  The average flat monthly premium paid by employers was $748.60 for single coverage and $1,719.45
	  for family coverage.

Average wage category
	* Access to student loan repayment assistance ranged from 3 percent for the lowest 25 percent 
	  average wage category to 13 percent for the highest 25 percent average wage category among 
	  private industry workers. 
	* Access to healthcare flexible spending accounts for state and local government workers ranged
	  from 62 percent for the lowest 25 percent average wage category to 74 percent for the highest 25
	  percent average wage category.

Census area
	* Life insurance access among state and local government workers was 81 percent in the West census
	  area and 86 percent in the South census area. The take-up rate was 99 percent for West census 
	  area workers and 97 percent for South census area workers.
	* Access to short-term disability plans was available to 35 percent of civilian workers in the 
	  South census area with a participation rate of 34 percent. Sixty-seven percent of civilian 
	  workers in the Northeast census area had access with a participation rate of 67 percent.