68 percent of private industry workers had access to retirement plans in 2021

In March 2021, 68 percent of private industry workers had access to retirement benefits through their employer, with 51 percent choosing to participate. Ninety-two percent of workers in state and local government had access to retirement benefits, with 82 percent participation. The take-up rate—the share of workers with access who participate in the plan—was 75 percent for private industry workers and 89 percent for state and local government workers.

Within private industry, management, professional, and related occupations had the highest access rate for retirement benefits in March 2021, at 86 percent, and the highest take-up rate (84 percent). Service occupations had both the lowest access rate (40 percent) and the lowest take-up rate (59 percent).

In March 2021, for all major occupational groups, access rates for retirement benefits in state and local government were higher than in private industry. For state and local government workers, the only occupational group with an access rate below 90 percent was service occupations, at 85 percent. Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations had the highest access rate, at 97 percent.

These data are from the National Compensation Survey — Benefits program. For more information, see Employee Benefits in the United States — March 2021. We also have more charts on employee benefits.