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 |
Last Modified Date: September 30, 2025