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Handbook of Methods > Employee Benefits

Handbook of Methods Employee Benefits Overview

Employee Benefits: Overview

The Employee Benefits program measures the incidence and provisions of selected benefits provided by employers to their employees. Employee Benefits publishes data on the percentage of workers with access to and participating in employer provided benefits plans, such as paid leave, life insurance, health insurance, as well as details of what those plans provide. Plan features, costs, limitations or restrictions, and employer and employee shares of contributions to medical care premiums and their average amounts are also presented. These data are collected through the National Compensation Survey (NCS) and provide information about benefits in the economy at a point in time. 

Quick Facts: Employee Benefits
Subject areas	Benefits
Key measures	Percentage of workers with access to benefit plans Percentage of workers participating in benefit plans Take-up rates Percentage share of medical premiums Duration of benefits Out-of-pocket costs
How the data are obtained	Government agencies, Survey of businesses
Classification system	Standard Occupational Classification System (SOC)   North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)
Periodicity of data availability	Annual
Geographic detail	Census region, National
Scope	Private sector, State and local government
Reference Period	Annual
Key products	Employee Benefits news release
Program webpage	www.bls.gov/ebs