5.0 percent of all workers had access to student loan repayment benefits in March 2023

Student loan repayments resumed in October 2023, after a pause that began in March 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Access to student loan repayment benefits was available to 5.0 percent of both state and local government and private industry workers through their place of employment in March 2023.

Among workers in different average hourly wage categories, 2.0 percent of private industry workers and 3.0 percent of state and local government workers earning wages in the lowest 10 percent had access to student loan repayment benefits. At the other end of the wage scale, 11.0 percent of private industry workers and 6.0 percent of state and local government workers with wages in the highest 10th percentile had access to these benefits.

Other financial and quality of life benefits that may be offered include employee assistance programs, wellness programs, financial planning, and flexible workplaces. Among private industry workers, 48.0 percent had access to employee assistance programs in March 2013, increasing to 54.0 percent in March 2023. Forty-three percent had access to wellness programs in March 2023, up from 35.0 percent a decade earlier. Access to financial planning benefits increased from 19.0 percent in March 2013 to 23.0 percent in March 2023. The availability of flexible workplace benefits for private industry workers rose from 6.0 percent to 9.0 percent over the decade.

These data are from the Employee Benefits program. For more information, see “Employee Benefits in the United States — March 2023.” Historical estimates are also accessible in Excel format and through the database query tool. We also have more charts on Employee Benefits.