Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington, D.C. 20212 

Technical Contact: (202) 691-6199 USDL: 08-1122 

 NCSinfo@bls.gov 

Media Contact: (202) 691-5902 FOR RELEASE: 10:00 A.M. (EDT) 

Internet address: www.bls.gov/ebs THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2008 

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS IN THE UNITED STATES, MARCH 2008 

Two-thirds of private industry and State and local government workers (defined in this survey as civilian 

workers) had access to retirement benefits and nearly three-quarters to medical care in March 2008, the Bureau 

of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Access and participation in retirement and 

medical care benefits were greater in State and local government than in private industry. The data are from the 

National Compensation Survey (NCS), which provides comprehensive measures of occupational earnings, 

compensation cost trends, and incidence and provisions of employee benefit plans. For the first time, this 

release includes data on benefits for civilian workers. Farm and private household workers, the self-employed, 

and the Federal government are excluded from the survey. 

The following are some of the major findings: 

• Sixty-one percent of private industry employees had access to paid retirement benefits, compared with 

89 percent of State and local government employees. Eighty-six percent of government employees 

participated in a retirement plan, significantly greater than the approximately half of private industry 

workers. (See table 1.) 

• Medical care benefits were available to 71 percent of private industry workers, compared with 87 

percent among government workers. About half of private industry workers participated in a plan, less 

than the nearly three-quarters of government workers. (See table 2.) 

• Virtually all full-time employees in State and local government had access to retirement and medical 

benefits: 99 and 98 percent, respectively. In private industry, only 71 percent of full-time workers had 

access to retirement benefits and 85 percent to medical care. (See tables 1 and 2.) 

• Employers paid 83 percent of the cost of premiums for single coverage and 71 percent of the cost for 

family coverage for workers participating in employer sponsored medical plans. Employer share for 

single coverage was greater in State and local government (90 percent) than in private industry (81 

percent). For family coverage, the employer share of premiums was similar for private industry and 

government, 71 and 73 percent, respectively. (See tables 3 and 4.) 

Incidence of employee benefits varied by employer and employee characteristics; patterns varied between 

private industry and State and local government. For example, while access to employee benefits showed 

substantial variation by full- and part-time status in all establishments, the differences, except for holidays and 

vacations, were greater in State and local government than in private industry, where occupational group and 

establishment size played a greater role. Service occupations in private industry had significantly lower rates of 

access to major benefits than workers in management, professional, and related occupations, whereas in State 

and local government the differences between these two groups were not as large. 

News United States 

Department 

of Labor
 2

Access to paid holidays and paid vacations was greater in private industry, due in part to the fact that 

many teachers and other employees in educational services who are employed on the basis of 9-month contracts 

do not receive formal paid holidays or vacation benefits (see Technical Note for more information on this topic). 

More information can be obtained by calling (202) 691-6199, sending e-mail to NCSinfo@bls.gov, or by 

visiting the BLS Internet site, http://www.bls.gov/ncs/home.htm. Regional Information offices, listed on the 

Internet site, http://www.bls.gov/bls/regncon.htm, also are available to answer any of your questions. 

More information will be published later this summer. Included will be data for civilian, private industry, 

and State and local government workers on the incidence and provisions of health care benefits, retirement 

benefits, life insurance, short-term and long-term disability benefits, paid holidays and vacations, and other 

selected benefits. These results will be found on the BLS Web site http://www.bls.gov/ncs/ebs. 

In addition, starting in the fall of 2008, a new “National Compensation Survey Benefit Series” will be 

introduced. As part of the new BLS Program Perspectives publication, the benefits series will bring together a 

variety of benefits information from the National Compensation Survey into one publication. This publication 

will be available online at http://www.bls.gov/ncs/ebs. 
 3

Table 1. Retirement benefits:1 Access, participation, and take-up rates,2 National Compensation Survey, March 2008

(All workers = 100 percent)

Characteristics

Civilian3 Private industry State and local government

Access Participation Take-up

rate Access Participation Take-uprate Access Participation Take-uprate

All workers ............................................................. 66 56 86 61 51 83 89 86 96

Worker characteristics

Management, professional, and related ................ 81 74 92 76 68 90 91 88 96

Management, business, and financial ............... 83 79 94 82 77 94 – – –

Professional and related .................................... 80 73 91 73 64 88 91 88 96

Teachers ........................................................ 82 79 96 – – – 91 88 97

Primary, secondary, and special education

school teachers ........................................ 90 88 98 – – – 96 95 98

Registered nurses ......................................... 80 68 85 – – – 94 88 93

Service ................................................................... 44 34 76 37 25 68 83 79 96

Protective service .............................................. – – – – – – 91 87 96

Sales and office ..................................................... 67 57 85 65 55 84 90 87 97

Sales and related ............................................... 60 46 77 60 46 77 – – –

Office and administrative support ...................... 71 64 90 68 60 88 91 88 97

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance 65 56 86 62 52 84 93 91 98

Construction, extraction, farming, fishing, and

forestry ............................................................. 61 51 84 58 47 82 – – –

Installation, maintenance, and repair ................. 69 61 88 67 58 86 – – –

Production, transportation, and material moving ... 66 55 83 65 54 82 87 85 98

Production ......................................................... 68 57 84 68 57 84 – – –

Transportation and material moving .................. 64 53 82 63 51 81 – – –

Full time ................................................................. 75 66 87 71 60 85 99 95 97

Part time ................................................................ 33 25 76 32 23 73 40 37 94

Union ..................................................................... 90 86 96 85 80 95 97 94 97

Nonunion ............................................................... 61 51 83 59 48 81 83 80 96

Average wage within the following percentiles:4

Less than 10 ...................................................... 26 15 59 25 14 57 58 55 94

10 to under 25 ................................................... 45 32 72 41 28 68 84 81 96

25 to under 50 ................................................... 66 55 83 63 50 80 93 90 96

50 to under 75 ................................................... 76 68 90 70 61 87 95 91 96

75 to under 90 ................................................... 84 78 93 79 73 91 97 94 97

90 or greater ...................................................... 88 82 94 84 78 92 98 95 97

See footnotes at end of table.
 4

Table 1. Retirement benefits:1 Access, participation, and take-up rates,2 National Compensation Survey, March

2008—Continued

(All workers = 100 percent)

Characteristics

Civilian3 Private industry State and local government

Access Participation Take-up

rate Access Participation Take-uprate Access Participation Take-uprate

Establishment characteristics

Goods-producing industries ................................... 72 62 87 71 62 86 – – –

Service-providing industries .................................. 64 55 86 59 49 82 89 86 96

Education and health services ........................... 75 67 90 64 54 84 91 88 97

Educational services ...................................... 85 82 96 64 58 91 91 88 97

Elementary and secondary schools ........... 89 87 98 – – – 92 90 98

Junior colleges, colleges, and universities 85 79 93 85 77 91 85 80 94

Health care and social assistance ................. 67 56 84 64 53 83 92 85 93

Hospitals .................................................... 88 78 88 – – – 93 84 91

Public administration ......................................... 89 86 96 – – – 89 86 96

1 to 99 workers ...................................................... 47 39 82 45 37 81 77 75 97

1 to 49 workers .................................................. 42 35 83 41 34 82 71 69 97

50 to 99 workers ................................................ 59 48 81 58 45 79 85 83 98

100 workers or more .............................................. 82 72 88 79 67 85 91 88 96

100 to 499 workers ............................................ 75 63 85 73 60 83 87 84 96

500 workers or more .......................................... 89 80 90 87 76 87 93 89 96

Geographic areas

New England ......................................................... 60 53 89 56 49 87 85 82 96

Middle Atlantic ....................................................... 66 60 91 62 55 90 90 87 96

East North Central ................................................. 67 59 89 64 56 87 85 82 97

West North Central ................................................ 68 60 89 64 56 87 89 83 93

South Atlantic ........................................................ 68 56 83 63 50 79 90 86 95

East South Central ................................................ 70 53 76 65 45 69 90 86 96

West South Central ............................................... 61 52 84 56 45 80 91 89 99

Mountain ................................................................ 67 56 83 63 51 80 89 87 97

Pacific .................................................................... 64 55 86 58 49 83 92 89 97

1 Includes defined benefit pension plans and defined contribution retirement plans.

Workers are considered as having access or as participating if they have access to or

participate in at least one of these plan types. 2 The take-up rate is an estimate of the percentage of workers with access to a plan

who participate in the plan, rounded for presentation. See Technical Note for more details. 3 Includes workers in the private nonfarm economy except those in private households,

and workers in the public sector, except the federal government. See Technical Note for

further explanation. 4 The percentile groupings are based on the average wage for each occupation

surveyed, which may include workers both above and below the threshold. The percentile

values are based on the estimates published in the "National Compensation Survey:

Occupational Earnings in the United States, 2007." See Technical Note for more details.

NOTE: Dash indicates no workers in this category or data did not meet publication criteria.
 5

Table 2. Medical care benefits: Access, participation, and take-up rates,1 National Compensation Survey, March 2008

(All workers = 100 percent)

Characteristics

Civilian2 Private industry State and local government

Access Participation Take-up

rate Access Participation Take-uprate Access Participation Take-uprate

All workers ............................................................. 74 56 76 71 53 75 87 73 83

Worker characteristics

Management, professional, and related ................ 87 70 80 86 68 79 90 74 83

Management, business, and financial ............... 94 78 83 94 77 82 – – –

Professional and related .................................... 84 67 79 82 64 78 89 73 82

Teachers ........................................................ 83 67 80 – – – 88 73 83

Primary, secondary, and special education

school teachers ........................................ 91 73 80 – – – 95 78 83

Registered nurses ......................................... 76 59 77 – – – 93 72 77

Service ................................................................... 52 35 67 46 29 62 80 67 83

Protective service .............................................. – – – – – – 89 76 86

Sales and office ..................................................... 73 53 73 71 51 72 88 75 84

Sales and related ............................................... 63 43 67 63 42 67 – – –

Office and administrative support ...................... 78 60 76 77 57 75 89 75 84

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance 78 64 81 77 62 81 94 80 86

Construction, extraction, farming, fishing, and

forestry ............................................................. 73 59 81 71 57 81 – – –

Installation, maintenance, and repair ................. 84 69 82 83 68 81 – – –

Production, transportation, and material moving ... 78 61 79 78 61 78 82 70 85

Production ......................................................... 83 67 81 82 67 81 – – –

Transportation and material moving .................. 74 56 76 73 55 75 – – –

Full time ................................................................. 88 68 78 85 65 76 98 83 84

Part time ................................................................ 25 15 60 24 14 60 28 18 65

Union ..................................................................... 91 79 86 88 79 89 95 79 83

Nonunion ............................................................... 70 52 74 69 50 73 81 67 83

Average wage within the following percentiles:3

Less than 10 ...................................................... 25 13 52 25 13 51 52 39 76

10 to under 25 ................................................... 51 31 61 48 28 59 81 67 82

25 to under 50 ................................................... 79 58 74 77 55 72 91 77 85

50 to under 75 ................................................... 86 70 81 84 67 79 94 80 85

75 to under 90 ................................................... 90 75 83 88 72 83 97 80 83

90 or greater ...................................................... 92 76 82 91 75 82 97 81 84

See footnotes at end of table.
 6

Table 2. Medical care benefits: Access, participation, and take-up rates,1 National Compensation Survey, March

2008—Continued

(All workers = 100 percent)

Characteristics

Civilian2 Private industry State and local government

Access Participation Take-up

rate Access Participation Take-uprate Access Participation Take-uprate

Establishment characteristics

Goods-producing industries ................................... 85 69 82 85 69 82 – – –

Service-providing industries .................................. 71 53 75 68 49 73 87 73 83

Education and health services ........................... 80 60 75 74 51 69 88 72 81

Educational services ...................................... 86 69 81 76 58 77 88 72 82

Elementary and secondary schools ........... 88 70 80 – – – 89 72 81

Junior colleges, colleges, and universities 87 72 83 90 73 81 86 72 84

Health care and social assistance ................. 75 52 69 74 50 68 91 71 78

Hospitals .................................................... 88 67 76 – – – 94 70 75

Public administration ......................................... 88 76 86 – – – 88 76 86

1 to 99 workers ...................................................... 60 44 73 60 43 72 74 63 85

1 to 49 workers .................................................. 56 41 72 56 40 72 68 58 86

50 to 99 workers ................................................ 71 52 74 70 51 73 83 70 84

100 workers or more .............................................. 85 67 79 84 65 77 89 74 83

100 to 499 workers ............................................ 81 61 76 80 60 74 84 72 85

500 workers or more .......................................... 89 72 81 88 71 81 91 75 82

Geographic areas

New England ......................................................... 70 51 72 68 48 71 85 68 80

Middle Atlantic ....................................................... 74 58 78 72 55 76 85 77 90

East North Central ................................................. 72 55 76 71 54 75 80 63 78

West North Central ................................................ 72 56 78 69 54 77 83 66 80

South Atlantic ........................................................ 76 57 75 73 53 73 90 75 83

East South Central ................................................ 78 61 78 75 57 77 93 75 81

West South Central ............................................... 70 52 74 66 47 71 90 76 84

Mountain ................................................................ 72 53 73 70 49 71 87 72 83

Pacific .................................................................... 75 61 81 72 58 80 90 77 86

1 The take-up rate is an estimate of the percentage of workers with access to a plan

who participate in the plan, rounded for presentation. See Technical Note for more details. 2 Includes workers in the private nonfarm economy except those in private households,

and workers in the public sector, except the federal government. See Technical Note for

further explanation. 3 The percentile groupings are based on the average wage for each occupation

surveyed, which may include workers both above and below the threshold. The percentile

values are based on the estimates published in the "National Compensation Survey:

Occupational Earnings in the United States, 2007." See Technical Note for more details.

NOTE: Dash indicates no workers in this category or data did not meet publication criteria.
 7

Table 3. Medical plans: Share of premiums paid by employer and employee for single

coverage, National Compensation Survey, March 2008

(In percent)

Characteristics

Civilian1 Private industry State and local

government

Employer

share of

premium

Employee

share of

premium

Employer

share of

premium

Employee

share of

premium

Employer

share of

premium

Employee

share of

premium

All workers participating in single coverage

medical plans ....................................................... 83 17 81 19 90 10

Worker characteristics

Management, professional, and related ................ 84 16 82 18 90 10

Management, business, and financial ............... 83 17 82 18 – –

Professional and related .................................... 85 15 82 18 90 10

Teachers ........................................................ 90 10 – – 91 9

Primary, secondary, and special education

school teachers ........................................ 90 10 – – 90 10

Registered nurses ......................................... 82 18 – – 86 14

Service ................................................................... 81 19 77 23 90 10

Protective service .............................................. – – – – 91 9

Sales and office ..................................................... 81 19 80 20 90 10

Sales and related ............................................... 77 23 77 23 – –

Office and administrative support ...................... 82 18 81 19 90 10

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance 84 16 84 16 90 10

Construction, extraction, farming, fishing, and

forestry ............................................................. 87 13 87 13 – –

Installation, maintenance, and repair ................. 81 19 80 20 – –

Production, transportation, and material moving ... 83 17 83 17 91 9

Production ......................................................... 83 17 83 17 – –

Transportation and material moving .................. 83 17 82 18 – –

Full time ................................................................. 83 17 81 19 90 10

Part time ................................................................ 79 21 78 22 88 12

Union ..................................................................... 91 9 92 8 91 9

Nonunion ............................................................... 80 20 79 21 89 11

Average wage within the following percentiles:2

Less than 10 ...................................................... 74 26 73 27 90 10

10 to under 25 ................................................... 77 23 76 24 89 11

25 to under 50 ................................................... 81 19 79 21 90 10

50 to under 75 ................................................... 84 16 82 18 91 9

75 to under 90 ................................................... 86 14 84 16 90 10

90 or greater ...................................................... 85 15 82 18 91 9

See footnotes at end of table.
 8

Table 3. Medical plans: Share of premiums paid by employer and employee for single

coverage, National Compensation Survey, March 2008—Continued

(In percent)

Characteristics

Civilian1 Private industry State and local

government

Employer

share of

premium

Employee

share of

premium

Employer

share of

premium

Employee

share of

premium

Employer

share of

premium

Employee

share of

premium

Establishment characteristics

Goods-producing industries ................................... 84 16 84 16 – –

Service-providing industries .................................. 83 17 80 20 90 10

Education and health services ........................... 86 14 82 18 90 10

Educational services ...................................... 89 11 83 17 90 10

Elementary and secondary schools ........... 90 10 – – 90 10

Junior colleges, colleges, and universities 88 12 82 18 90 10

Health care and social assistance ................. 83 17 82 18 87 13

Hospitals .................................................... 83 17 – – 87 13

Public administration ......................................... 90 10 – – 90 10

1 to 99 workers ...................................................... 82 18 81 19 92 8

1 to 49 workers .................................................. 82 18 81 19 92 8

50 to 99 workers ................................................ 81 19 80 20 91 9

100 workers or more .............................................. 84 16 81 19 90 10

100 to 499 workers ............................................ 82 18 81 19 91 9

500 workers or more .......................................... 85 15 82 18 90 10

Geographic areas

New England ......................................................... 79 21 78 22 88 12

Middle Atlantic ....................................................... 85 15 83 17 94 6

East North Central ................................................. 82 18 81 19 91 9

West North Central ................................................ 83 17 82 18 91 9

South Atlantic ........................................................ 81 19 80 20 88 12

East South Central ................................................ 80 20 77 23 92 8

West South Central ............................................... 83 17 82 18 88 12

Mountain ................................................................ 82 18 80 20 92 8

Pacific .................................................................... 85 15 84 16 89 11

1 Includes workers in the private nonfarm economy except those

in private households, and workers in the public sector, except the

federal government. See Technical Note for further explanation. 2 The percentile groupings are based on the average wage for

each occupation surveyed, which may include workers both above

and below the threshold. The percentile values are based on the

estimates published in the "National Compensation Survey:

Occupational Earnings in the United States, 2007." See Technical

Note for more details.

NOTE: Dash indicates no workers in this category or data did not

meet publication criteria.
 9

Table 4. Medical plans: Share of premiums paid by employer and employee for family

coverage, National Compensation Survey, March 2008

(In percent)

Characteristics

Civilian1 Private industry State and local

government

Employer

share of

premium

Employee

share of

premium

Employer

share of

premium

Employee

share of

premium

Employer

share of

premium

Employee

share of

premium

All workers participating in family coverage

medical plans ....................................................... 71 29 71 29 73 27

Worker characteristics

Management, professional, and related ................ 72 28 72 28 72 28

Management, business, and financial ............... 72 28 72 28 – –

Professional and related .................................... 72 28 72 28 72 28

Teachers ........................................................ 70 30 – – 70 30

Primary, secondary, and special education

school teachers ........................................ 68 32 – – 68 32

Registered nurses ......................................... 71 29 – – 75 25

Service ................................................................... 69 31 66 34 75 25

Protective service .............................................. – – – – 79 21

Sales and office ..................................................... 69 31 68 32 75 25

Sales and related ............................................... 67 33 67 33 – –

Office and administrative support ...................... 69 31 68 32 75 25

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance 73 27 73 27 75 25

Construction, extraction, farming, fishing, and

forestry ............................................................. 74 26 74 26 – –

Installation, maintenance, and repair ................. 72 28 71 29 – –

Production, transportation, and material moving ... 75 25 75 25 75 25

Production ......................................................... 77 23 77 23 – –

Transportation and material moving .................. 73 27 72 28 – –

Full time ................................................................. 71 29 71 29 73 27

Part time ................................................................ 69 31 68 32 76 24

Union ..................................................................... 85 15 87 13 81 19

Nonunion ............................................................... 67 33 68 32 66 34

Average wage within the following percentiles:2

Less than 10 ...................................................... 63 37 63 37 61 39

10 to under 25 ................................................... 64 36 64 36 69 31

25 to under 50 ................................................... 68 32 68 32 75 25

50 to under 75 ................................................... 72 28 71 29 74 26

75 to under 90 ................................................... 74 26 75 25 73 27

90 or greater ...................................................... 76 24 75 25 81 19

See footnotes at end of table.
 10

Table 4. Medical plans: Share of premiums paid by employer and employee for family

coverage, National Compensation Survey, March 2008—Continued

(In percent)

Characteristics

Civilian1 Private industry State and local

government

Employer

share of

premium

Employee

share of

premium

Employer

share of

premium

Employee

share of

premium

Employer

share of

premium

Employee

share of

premium

Establishment characteristics

Goods-producing industries ................................... 76 24 76 24 – –

Service-providing industries .................................. 70 30 69 31 73 27

Education and health services ........................... 69 31 68 32 70 30

Educational services ...................................... 69 31 67 33 69 31

Elementary and secondary schools ........... 68 32 – – 68 32

Junior colleges, colleges, and universities 71 29 69 31 73 27

Health care and social assistance ................. 69 31 69 31 75 25

Hospitals .................................................... 73 27 – – 74 26

Public administration ......................................... 79 21 – – 79 21

1 to 99 workers ...................................................... 67 33 66 34 72 28

1 to 49 workers .................................................. 67 33 66 34 70 30

50 to 99 workers ................................................ 67 33 66 34 74 26

100 workers or more .............................................. 74 26 74 26 74 26

100 to 499 workers ............................................ 72 28 72 28 74 26

500 workers or more .......................................... 75 25 76 24 73 27

Geographic areas

New England ......................................................... 73 27 71 29 83 17

Middle Atlantic ....................................................... 78 22 75 25 92 8

East North Central ................................................. 77 23 75 25 85 15

West North Central ................................................ 72 28 72 28 71 29

South Atlantic ........................................................ 66 34 66 34 65 35

East South Central ................................................ 64 36 66 34 58 42

West South Central ............................................... 64 36 66 34 54 46

Mountain ................................................................ 67 33 67 33 69 31

Pacific .................................................................... 74 26 72 28 79 21

1 Includes workers in the private nonfarm economy except those

in private households, and workers in the public sector, except the

federal government. See Technical Note for further explanation. 2 The percentile groupings are based on the average wage for

each occupation surveyed, which may include workers both above

and below the threshold. The percentile values are based on the

estimates published in the "National Compensation Survey:

Occupational Earnings in the United States, 2007." See Technical

Note for more details.

NOTE: Dash indicates no workers in this category or data did not

meet publication criteria.
 11

Table 5. Life insurance benefits: Access, participation, and take-up rates,1 National Compensation Survey, March 2008

(All workers = 100 percent)

Characteristics

Civilian2 Private industry State and local government

Access Participation Take-up

rate Access Participation Take-uprate Access Participation Take-uprate

All workers ............................................................. 62 60 96 59 56 96 79 77 97

Worker characteristics

Management, professional, and related ................ 77 75 98 76 74 98 80 78 97

Management, business, and financial ............... 85 83 98 85 83 98 – – –

Professional and related .................................... 74 73 98 72 70 98 79 77 97

Teachers ........................................................ 72 70 97 – – – 78 76 97

Primary, secondary, and special education

school teachers ........................................ 76 75 98 – – – 82 80 98

Registered nurses ......................................... 68 66 97 – – – 83 81 98

Service ................................................................... 42 39 93 36 33 91 75 73 97

Protective service .............................................. – – – – – – 85 83 98

Sales and office ..................................................... 61 58 95 59 56 95 81 79 98

Sales and related ............................................... 50 46 93 50 46 93 – – –

Office and administrative support ...................... 67 65 97 65 62 96 81 80 98

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance 58 56 96 56 53 96 89 88 99

Construction, extraction, farming, fishing, and

forestry ............................................................. 49 47 95 46 43 94 – – –

Installation, maintenance, and repair ................. 69 67 97 67 65 97 – – –

Production, transportation, and material moving ... 67 64 96 66 63 96 77 75 97

Production ......................................................... 72 70 97 72 70 97 – – –

Transportation and material moving .................. 61 58 95 60 57 94 – – –

Full time ................................................................. 75 72 96 72 69 96 90 87 98

Part time ................................................................ 17 15 89 16 14 88 24 23 95

Union ..................................................................... 82 80 98 77 76 98 87 85 98

Nonunion ............................................................... 58 56 95 57 54 95 74 71 96

Average wage within the following percentiles:3

Less than 10 ...................................................... 18 16 88 17 16 89 44 42 95

10 to under 25 ................................................... 40 36 89 36 32 87 74 72 97

25 to under 50 ................................................... 65 62 96 63 60 95 84 82 97

50 to under 75 ................................................... 73 71 97 69 67 97 85 84 98

75 to under 90 ................................................... 79 78 98 76 75 98 88 86 98

90 or greater ...................................................... 84 82 98 82 81 98 89 87 97

See footnotes at end of table.
 12

Table 5. Life insurance benefits: Access, participation, and take-up rates,1 National Compensation Survey, March

2008—Continued

(All workers = 100 percent)

Characteristics

Civilian2 Private industry State and local government

Access Participation Take-up

rate Access Participation Take-uprate Access Participation Take-uprate

Establishment characteristics

Goods-producing industries ................................... 71 68 97 70 68 97 – – –

Service-providing industries .................................. 60 58 96 56 53 95 79 77 97

Education and health services ........................... 69 67 97 62 60 96 79 77 97

Educational services ...................................... 76 74 97 65 64 98 78 76 97

Elementary and secondary schools ........... 75 74 98 – – – 77 76 98

Junior colleges, colleges, and universities 83 80 96 85 85 99 82 77 94

Health care and social assistance ................. 64 61 96 62 59 96 84 82 97

Hospitals .................................................... 85 83 98 – – – 89 86 97

Public administration ......................................... 82 80 98 – – – 82 80 98

1 to 99 workers ...................................................... 44 41 95 43 40 94 64 62 97

1 to 49 workers .................................................. 39 37 94 38 36 94 63 61 98

50 to 99 workers ................................................ 55 53 95 54 52 95 66 63 96

100 workers or more .............................................. 78 76 97 77 74 96 82 80 97

100 to 499 workers ............................................ 71 68 95 71 67 95 73 72 98

500 workers or more .......................................... 85 83 98 85 83 98 85 83 97

Geographic areas

New England ......................................................... 58 56 98 55 53 98 76 73 97

Middle Atlantic ....................................................... 60 59 98 56 55 98 84 83 99

East North Central ................................................. 66 63 96 64 61 96 77 74 96

West North Central ................................................ 63 60 97 60 58 96 75 74 99

South Atlantic ........................................................ 66 63 95 62 59 95 84 81 96

East South Central ................................................ 68 65 95 66 62 95 80 75 94

West South Central ............................................... 60 56 94 57 53 93 75 74 99

Mountain ................................................................ 60 56 94 56 52 93 83 81 97

Pacific .................................................................... 57 55 96 53 51 96 77 77 99

1 The take-up rate is an estimate of the percentage of workers with access to a plan

who participate in the plan, rounded for presentation. See Technical Note for more details. 2 Includes workers in the private nonfarm economy except those in private households,

and workers in the public sector, except the federal government. See Technical Note for

further explanation. 3 The percentile groupings are based on the average wage for each occupation

surveyed, which may include workers both above and below the threshold. The percentile

values are based on the estimates published in the "National Compensation Survey:

Occupational Earnings in the United States, 2007." See Technical Note for more details.

NOTE: Dash indicates no workers in this category or data did not meet publication criteria.
 13

Table 6. Selected paid leave benefits: Access, National Compensation Survey, March 2008

(All workers = 100 percent)

Characteristics

Civilian1 Private industry State and local government

Paid

holidays

Paid

vacation

Paid

personal

leave

Paid

holidays

Paid

vacation

Paid

personal

leave

Paid

holidays

Paid

vacation

Paid

personal

leave

All workers ............................................................. 76 75 41 77 78 37 68 60 59

Worker characteristics

Management, professional, and related ................ 80 74 58 89 87 55 57 44 64

Management, business, and financial ............... 94 94 55 96 96 54 – – –

Professional and related .................................... 74 67 59 86 84 55 51 37 65

Teachers ........................................................ 37 18 65 – – – 32 13 70

Primary, secondary, and special education

school teachers ........................................ 34 14 75 – – – 29 9 78

Registered nurses ......................................... 81 77 56 – – – 82 80 49

Service ................................................................... 56 63 30 52 61 26 78 75 52

Protective service .............................................. – – – – – – 86 87 55

Sales and office ..................................................... 82 81 40 81 80 39 87 85 54

Sales and related ............................................... 72 72 34 72 72 34 – – –

Office and administrative support ...................... 88 86 44 88 86 42 87 86 56

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance 78 77 28 76 76 26 95 94 46

Construction, extraction, farming, fishing, and

forestry ............................................................. 65 65 20 62 63 18 – – –

Installation, maintenance, and repair ................. 93 92 37 93 91 35 – – –

Production, transportation, and material moving ... 85 82 33 85 83 32 76 64 59

Production ......................................................... 92 90 33 92 90 32 – – –

Transportation and material moving .................. 78 75 33 78 76 31 – – –

Full time ................................................................. 86 86 46 89 90 42 75 68 65

Part time ................................................................ 39 37 22 40 39 21 31 20 30

Union ..................................................................... 79 73 57 85 84 47 70 57 72

Nonunion ............................................................... 75 76 38 76 77 36 67 62 49

Average wage within the following percentiles:2

Less than 10 ...................................................... 38 42 17 38 43 17 48 40 36

10 to under 25 ................................................... 63 64 28 61 63 25 75 66 50

25 to under 50 ................................................... 83 83 39 84 84 38 87 83 59

50 to under 75 ................................................... 88 88 44 89 88 39 78 73 63

75 to under 90 ................................................... 83 80 56 88 87 52 55 40 74

90 or greater ...................................................... 78 74 58 89 88 54 47 35 67

See footnotes at end of table.
 14

Table 6. Selected paid leave benefits: Access, National Compensation Survey, March 2008—Continued

(All workers = 100 percent)

Characteristics

Civilian1 Private industry State and local government

Paid

holidays

Paid

vacation

Paid

personal

leave

Paid

holidays

Paid

vacation

Paid

personal

leave

Paid

holidays

Paid

vacation

Paid

personal

leave

Establishment characteristics

Goods-producing industries ................................... 86 86 33 86 86 33 – – –

Service-providing industries .................................. 74 73 42 75 76 38 68 60 59

Education and health services ........................... 72 65 57 82 80 52 57 43 64

Educational services ...................................... 54 40 62 64 53 47 52 36 66

Elementary and secondary schools ........... 44 27 70 – – – 44 27 72

Junior colleges, colleges, and universities 79 69 49 80 72 56 78 67 46

Health care and social assistance ................. 85 85 52 85 84 52 92 91 53

Hospitals .................................................... 89 90 63 – – – 93 94 47

Public administration ......................................... 87 88 53 – – – 87 88 53

1 to 99 workers ...................................................... 69 71 27 69 71 26 70 66 46

1 to 49 workers .................................................. 69 70 25 69 70 25 69 68 40

50 to 99 workers ................................................ 71 72 31 71 73 30 71 63 55

100 workers or more .............................................. 81 79 53 86 86 50 68 59 61

100 to 499 workers ............................................ 81 79 46 83 82 44 64 59 60

500 workers or more .......................................... 82 79 59 89 90 58 69 59 61

Geographic areas

New England ......................................................... 75 72 47 78 75 42 56 50 80

Middle Atlantic ....................................................... 78 76 49 80 79 46 63 58 68

East North Central ................................................. 75 73 46 76 76 43 65 53 69

West North Central ................................................ 74 74 34 74 77 31 70 56 50

South Atlantic ........................................................ 78 78 36 78 79 33 78 68 55

East South Central ................................................ 79 78 37 80 81 37 76 69 38

West South Central ............................................... 76 75 38 80 79 34 54 52 59

Mountain ................................................................ 73 72 37 75 75 35 59 56 53

Pacific .................................................................... 75 75 38 74 77 34 76 67 58

1 Includes workers in the private nonfarm economy except those in private

households, and workers in the public sector, except the federal government. See

Technical Note for further explanation. 2 The percentile groupings are based on the average wage for each occupation

surveyed, which may include workers both above and below the threshold. The

percentile values are based on the estimates published in the "National Compensation

Survey: Occupational Earnings in the United States, 2007." See Technical Note for more

details.

NOTE: Dash indicates no workers in this category or data did not meet publication

criteria.
 15

Technical Note 

Data in this release are from the National Compensation Survey (NCS), conducted by the U.S. 

Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This release contains March 2008 data on civilian, 

private industry, and State and local government workers in the United States. Under the NCS program, 

information on the incidence and provision of benefits is published in several stages. This news release 

provides data on the incidence of (access to and participation in) selected benefits and share of premiums paid 

by employers and employees for medical care. An extensive number of web-only tables on the incidence of 

selected benefits will be available in the late summer of 2008. Data on detailed provisions of health insurance 

benefits in private industry will be published in 2009. Previous publications containing information on 

employee benefits for private industry and State and local government workers are available on the BLS website 

http://www.bls.gov/ncs/ebs. 

Calculation details

Averages for occupations within an establishment were used to produce estimates for worker groups 

averaging hourly pay within the six earnings percentiles: Below the 10th percentile, 10th to under the 25th 

percentile, 25th to under the 50th percentile, 50th to under the 75th percentile, 75th to under the 90th percentile, 

and the 90th percentile and greater. Individual workers can fall into an earnings category different from the 

average for an occupation and establishment into which they are classified. The percentile breakouts are based 

on the average wage for each occupation surveyed, which may include workers both above and below the 

threshold. The percentile values are based on wages to be published in the upcoming “National Compensation 

Survey: Occupational Earnings in the United States, 2007,” U.S. Department of Labor, June 2008, bulletin 

2704. The tables on employer and employee medical premiums (tables 3 and 4) include participants in all 

medical plans, with calculations for both single and family coverage. The calculations are not based on actual 

decisions regarding medical coverage made by employees within the occupations. Rather, the premium 

calculations are based on the assumption that all employees in the occupation have identical coverage. Values 

corresponding to the percentiles used in the tables are as follows: 

Characteristics 

Hourly wage percentiles 

10 25 50 

(median) 75 90 

Civilian workers $8.00 $10.57 $15.70 $24.47 $36.15

Private industry workers $7.85 $10.13 $15.00 $23.25 $34.79

State and local government workers $11.00 $14.45 $20.68 $30.39 $41.66

Take-up rates

Take-up rates are the percentage of workers with access to a plan who participate in the plan. They are 

computed by using the number of workers participating in a plan divided by the number of workers with access 

to the plan, times 100 and rounded to the nearest one percent. Since the computation of take-up rates is based on 

the number of workers collected, rather the rounded percentage estimates, the take-up rates in the tables may not 

equal the ratio of participation to access estimates.

Leave benefits for teachers

Primary, secondary, and special education teachers typically have a work schedule of 37 or 38 weeks per 

year. Because of this work schedule, they are generally not offered vacation or holidays. In many cases, the time 

off during winter and spring breaks during the school year is not considered vacation days for the purposes of 

this survey. However, many teachers are offered personal days of leave that are captured in the survey.
 16

Survey scope

The March 2008 NCS benefits survey represented about 127 million civilian workers; of this number, 

about 107 million were private industry workers and 19 million, State and local government workers (see 

Appendix table 2). For purposes of this study, a private establishment is an economic unit that produces goods 

or services, a central administrative office, or an auxiliary unit providing support services to a company. For 

private industries, the establishment is usually at a single physical location. For State and local governments, an 

establishment is defined as an agency or entity such as a school district, college, university, hospital, nursing 

home, administrative body, court, police department, fire department, health or social service operation, 

highway maintenance operation, urban transit operation, or other governmental unit. It provides services under 

the authority of a specific State or local government organization within a defined geographic area or 

jurisdiction. The survey sample weights were adjusted to reflect the March 2008 employment figures from the 

Current Employment Statistics survey. 

The nine census divisions are defined as follows: New England—Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, 

New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont; Middle Atlantic—New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania; East 

North Central—Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin; West North Central—Iowa, Kansas, 

Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota; South Atlantic—Delaware, District of 

Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia; East South 

Central—Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee; West South Central—Arkansas, Louisiana, 

Oklahoma, and Texas; Mountain—Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and 

Wyoming; and Pacific—Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington. 

Sample design and data collection

The sample for this survey was selected by using a 3-stage design. The first stage involved the selection of 

areas. The NCS State and local government sample consists of 152 areas that represent the Nation’s 361 

metropolitan statistical areas and 573 micropolitan statistical areas, as defined by the Office of Management and 

Budget in December 2003, and the remaining portions of the 50 States. The private industry sample consists of 

151 metropolitan areas and nonmetropolitan areas that represent the Nation’s 326 metropolitan statistical areas 

as defined by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in 1994 and the remaining portions of the 50 states. 

Nonmetropolitan areas are counties and other geographic designations that do not fit the metropolitan area 

definition. 

In the second stage, the sample of establishments was drawn by first stratifying the sampling frame by 

industry and implicitly by establishment size. The list of establishments from which the survey sample was 

selected was developed from State unemployment insurance reports and is based on the 2007 North American 

Industry Classification System (NAICS). 

The third stage of sample selection was the drawing of a probability sample of occupations within a 

sampled establishment. Identification of the occupations for which data were to be collected was a 4-step 

process: 

1. Probability-proportional-to-size selection of establishment jobs

2. Classification of jobs into occupations based on the 2000 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) 

 system

3. Characterization of jobs as full time vs. part time, union vs. nonunion, and time versus incentive

4. Determination of the level of work of each job

For additional technical information, see the BLS Handbook of Methods, available online at 

http://www.bls.gov/opub/hom/home.htm. 
 17

Definition of terms

Civilian workers. Private industry and State and local government workers. 

Full-time worker. Any employee whom the employer considers to be full time. 

Part-time worker. Any employee whom the employer considers to be part time. 

Nonunion worker. An employee in an occupation not meeting the conditions for union coverage. 

Union worker. Any employee is in a union occupation when all of the following conditions are met:

• A labor organization is recognized as the bargaining agent for all workers in the occupation.

• Wage and salary rates are determined through collective bargaining or negotiations.

• Settlement terms, which must include earnings provisions and may include benefit provisions, are 

 embodied in a signed, mutually binding collective bargaining agreement

Survey estimation methods

The survey design uses an estimator that assigns the inverse of each sample unit’s probability of selection 

as a weight to the unit’s data at each stage of sample selection and four weight adjustment factors. The first 

factor adjusts for establishment nonresponse and the second factor adjusts for occupational nonresponse. The 

third factor adjusts for any special situations that may have occurred during data collection. The fourth factor, 

poststratification, also called benchmarking, is introduced to adjust the estimated employment totals to actual 

counts of employment by industry for the survey reference date. 

For additional technical information, see the BLS Handbook of Methods, available online at 

http://www.bls.gov/opub/hom/home.htm.

Reliability of estimates

The statistics in this summary are estimates derived from a sample of usable occupation quotes selected 

from the responding establishments. They are not tabulations based on data from all employees in 

establishments within the scope of the survey. Consequently, the data are subject to sampling and nonsampling 

errors.

Sampling errors are the differences that can arise between results derived from a sample and those 

computed from observations of all units in the population being studied. The sample used for this survey is one 

of a number of possible samples of the same size that could have been selected using the sample design. 

Estimates derived from the different samples would differ from one another. 

A measure of the variation among these differing estimates is the standard error. It can be used to measure the 

precision with which an estimate from a particular sample approximates the expected result of all possible 

samples. The chances are about 68 out of 100 that an estimate from the survey differs from a complete 

population figure by less than the standard error. The chances are about 90 out of 100 that this difference would 

be less than 1.6 times the standard error. The statements of comparison appearing in this publication are 

significant at a 1.6 standard error level or better. This means that for differences cited, the estimated difference 

is greater than 1.6 times the standard error of the difference. Standard errors can be used to evaluate published 

series. To assist users in ascertaining the reliability of series, the standard errors for all estimates are available 

on the BLS Web site http://www.bls.gov/ncs/ebs. 

Nonsampling errors also affect survey results. They can be attributed to many sources, such as the 

inability to obtain information for some establishments, difficulties with survey definitions, inability of the 

respondents to provide correct information; or mistakes in recording or coding the data obtained. Although they 

were not specifically measured, the nonsampling errors were expected to be minimal due to the extensive 

training of the field economists who gathered the survey data, computer edits of the data, and detailed data 

review. 
 18

Survey response

The March 2008 benefits survey included a sample of 14,890 establishments. The definitions in 

Appendix table 1 are as follows:

Responding. The establishment provided information on at least one usable occupation. An occupation is 

classified as usable if the following data are present: occupational characteristics (full- vs. part-time schedule, 

union vs. nonunion status, and time vs. incentive pay type), work schedule and wage data. 

 

Refused or unable provide data. The establishment did not provide earnings, occupational classification, worker 

characteristics, and work schedule data for any occupation. 

Out of business or not in survey scope. The establishment is no longer in operation, following a bankruptcy, for 

example. Establishments not in the survey scope include farm and private households, the self-employed, the 

Federal government, and locations of an establishment out of the sampled area. Also excluded are 

establishments with no workers within the survey scope (if all employees are also owners, for example). 

Obtaining information

For research articles on employee benefits, see the Monthly Labor Review or Compensation and Working 

Conditions Online at the BLS Web sites http://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/home.htm and 

http://www.bls.gov/opub/cwc/home.htm. For more detailed information on the NAICS and SOC classification 

systems, including background information, see the BLS Web sites http://www.bls.gov/bls/naics.htm and 

http://www.bls.gov/soc/home.htm. 

Additional information about the NCS may be obtained by calling (202) 691–6199. You may also write to 

the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Division of Compensation Data Analysis and Planning, 2 Massachusetts 

Ave., NE, Room 4175, Washington, D.C. 20212–0001, or send e-mail to NCSinfo@bls.gov. The data 

contained in this summary are also available on the BLS Internet site: http://www.bls.gov/ncs/ebs. Users may 

access benefits data from previous surveys through a variety of tools available on the same page. Material in 

this summary is in the public domain and, with appropriate credit, may be reproduced without permission. This 

information will be made available to sensory-impaired individuals upon request. Voice telephone: (202) 691–

5200; Federal Relay Service: 1–800–877–8339. 
 19

Appendix table 1. Survey establishment response, National

Compensation Survey, March 2008

Establishments Total Private industry State and local

governments

Total in sampling frame1 ................................ 5,429,271 5,214,729 214,542

 Total in sample ............................................ 14,890 12,872 2,018

 Responding ............................................... 8,615 6,837 1,778

 Refused or unable to provide data ............ 4,126 3,907 219

 Out of business or not in survey scope ..... 2,149 2,128 21

1 The list of establishments from which the survey

sample was selected (sampling frame) was

developed from State unemployment insurance

reports and is based on the 2007 North American

Industry Classification System (NAICS). For private

industries, an establishment is usually a single

physical location. For State and local governments,

an establishment is defined as all locations of a

government entity. 
 20

Appendix table 2. Number of workers1 represented, National

Compensation Survey, March 2008

Occupational group2 Civilian workers Private industry

workers

State and local

government

workers

All workers ..................................................... 126,734,200 107,406,000 19,328,100

Management, professional, and related .... 35,147,900 24,528,900 10,619,000

Management, business, and financial ... 9,604,000 7,972,200 –

Professional and related ........................ 25,543,900 16,556,700 8,987,200

Teachers ........................................... 6,312,600 – 4,893,700

Primary, secondary, and special

education school teachers ........... 4,273,200 – 3,632,000

Registered nurses ............................. 2,638,900 – 369,400

Service ...................................................... 26,586,700 22,459,300 4,127,400

Protective service .................................. – – 1,864,300

Sales and office ......................................... 33,676,800 30,866,900 2,809,900

Sales and related .................................. 12,652,600 12,507,100 –

Office and administrative support .......... 21,024,200 18,359,800 2,664,400

Natural resources, construction, and

maintenance ............................................ 11,578,100 10,591,100 987,000

Construction, extraction, farming,

fishing, and forestry ............................. 6,302,500 5,747,200 –

Installation, maintenance, and repair .... 5,275,600 4,843,900 –

Production, transportation, and material

moving ..................................................... 19,744,600 18,959,900 784,700

Production ............................................. 9,843,500 9,712,200 –

Transportation and material moving ...... 9,901,100 9,247,700 –

1 The number of workers represented by the

survey are rounded to the nearest 100. Estimates of

the number of workers provide a description of the

size and composition of the labor force included in

the survey. Estimates are not intended, however, for

comparison to other statistical series to measure

employment trends or levels. 2 The 2000 Standard Occupational Classification

system is used to classify workers.

NOTE: Dashes indicate that no data were reported

or that data did not meet publication criteria.