For release 10:00 a.m. (EDT) Friday, July 22, 2016 USDL-16-1493 

Technical information: (202) 691-6199 • ncsinfo@bls.gov • www.bls.gov/ebs 

Media contact: (202) 691-5902 • pressoffice@bls.gov 

These data are from the National Compensation Survey (NCS), which provides comprehensive 

measures of compensation cost levels and trends and also provides benefits incidence data on the 

percentage of workers with access to and participating in employer-provided benefit plans. The survey 

covers a broad range of benefits including holidays and vacations, sick leave, life insurance, and detailed 

provisions for health care and retirement plans. Archived NCS news releases are available at

www.bls.gov/ncs/ncspubs.htm. 

0

25

50

75

100

Retirement Medical care Life insurance

Civilian Private industry State and local government

0

10

20

30

40

Civilian Private industry State and local

government

Single coverage Family coverage

Chart 1. Participation rates for selected 

employer-sponsored benefits, March 2016

Chart 2. Share of medical care premiums 

paid by employees, March 2016

Percent Percent

(NOTE: Some estimates that include access to paid sick leave benefits were corrected in the BLS database on 

November 6, 2017. For additional information about this correction, see www.bls.gov/bls/errata/ebs-errata-07212017.htm.)

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS IN THE UNITED STATES – MARCH 2016 

The participation rate for employer-sponsored medical care benefits for civilian workers was 52 

percent in March 2016, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The participation rate was 

49 percent for private industry workers and 73 percent for state and local government workers. (See 

tables A and 2, and chart 1.) 

The participation rate for employer-sponsored retirement benefits, which include defined benefit and 

defined contribution plans, was 54 percent for civilian workers. The participation rate was 49 percent for 

private industry workers and 81 percent for state and local government workers. Differences in 

retirement plan participation are influenced by the type of plan offered. (See tables A and 1, chart 1, and 

the technical note.) 

Fifty-seven percent of civilian workers participated in employer-sponsored life insurance benefits. The 

participation rate for private industry workers was 54 percent and 78 percent for state and local 

government workers. (See tables A and 5, and chart 1.) 

The share of single coverage medical care premiums paid by employees averaged 19 percent for civilian 

workers, 21 percent for private industry workers, and 13 percent for state and local government workers. 

(See table 3 and chart 2.) 
Table A. Selected employer-sponsored benefits: Access, participation and take-up rates1, March 

2016 

(All workers = 100 percent)

Highlights of employer-sponsored benefits for civilian workers by worker characteristics:

• Access to retirement benefits for major occupational groups ranged from 47 percent for service

workers to 84 percent for management, professional, and related workers. (See table 1.)

• Access to medical care benefits was 88 percent of full-time workers and 19 percent for part-time

workers. (See table 2.)

• Access to life insurance benefits was 85 percent for union workers and 54 percent for nonunion

workers. (See table 5.)

• For workers with an average wage in the lowest 25 percent category, 41 percent had access to

paid sick leave, 51 percent had access to paid vacations, and 53 percent had access to paid

holidays. For workers with an average wage in the highest 25 percent category, 87 percent had

access to paid sick leave, 79 percent had access to paid vacations, and 83 percent had access to

paid holidays. (See table 6.)

Highlights of employer-sponsored benefits for civilian workers by establishment characteristics:

• Access to retirement benefits by establishment size ranged from 53 percent for workers in

establishments with 1 to 99 workers to 86 percent for workers in establishments with 100

workers or more. (See table 1.)

• Eighty-four percent of civilian workers in goods-producing industries had access to medical care

benefits. For workers in service-providing industries, the access rate to medical care benefits was

68 percent. (See table 2.)

• The access rate for life insurance for workers by Census region was 51 percent in the West, 59

percent in the Northeast, 61 percent in the South, and 62 percent in the Midwest. (See table 5.)

• For workers in establishments with 1 to 99 workers, the access rate was 56 percent for paid sick

leave, 68 percent for paid vacations, and 69 percent for paid holidays. For workers in

establishments with 100 or more workers, the access rate was 79 percent for paid sick leave, 79

percent for paid vacations, and 82 percent for paid holidays. (See table 6.)

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

visiting www.bls.gov/ebs. 

Additional Data Available Fall 2016

More information will be published September 23, 2016 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. For the latest benefit publications see www.bls.gov/ebs. 

Benefit Civilian1 Private industry State and local government

Access Participation Take-up 

rates

Access Participation Take-up 

rates

Access Participation Take-up 

rates

Retirement1 69 54 78 66 49 75 90 81 90

Medical care 70 52 75 67 49 73 88 73 83

Life insurance 59 57 98 55 54 98 80 78 98

1 For definitions of major plans, key provisions, and related terms, see the "Glossary of Employee Benefit Terms" at 

www.bls.gov/ncs/ebs/glossary20152016.htm and the technical note. 

 2
TECHNICAL NOTE

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

Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This release contains March 2016 data on 

employer-provided benefits offered to civilian, private industry, and state and local government workers 

in the United States. Excluded are federal government workers, the military, agricultural workers, 

private household workers, and the self-employed. This news release provides data on the incidence of 

(access to and participation in) selected benefits and the share of premiums paid by employers and 

employees for medical care. 

Comparing private and public sector data: Incidence of employee benefits in state and local 

government should not be directly compared to private industry. Differences between these sectors stem 

from factors such as variation in work activities and occupational structures. Manufacturing and sales, 

for example, make up a large part of private industry work activities but are rare in state and local 

government. Administrative support and professional occupations (including teachers) account for twothirds of the state and local government workforce, compared with one-half of private industry. 

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 

vacations or holidays. In many cases, the time off during winter and spring breaks during the school year 

are not considered vacation days for the purposes of this survey. 

Medical care premiums: The estimates for medical care premiums are not based on actual decisions 

regarding medical coverage made by employees; instead they are based on the assumption that all 

employees in the occupation can opt for single or family coverage. In instances where annual premiums 

are collected, the values are converted to a monthly premium amount using the annual work 

schedule. Annual work schedules may be less than twelve months. 

Sample size: See appendix table 1 at the end of this release.

Survey scope: See appendix table 2 at the end of this release.

Obtaining information: For research articles on employee benefits, see the Monthly Labor Review

benefits section at www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/subject/b.htm and Beyond the Numbers: Pay and Benefits at 

www.bls.gov/opub/btn/archive/home.htm. For further technical information, see Chapter 8, "National 

Compensation Measures," BLS Handbook of Methods at www.bls.gov/opub/hom/pdf/homch8.pdf. 

Definitions of major terms: 

Access: Employees are considered to have access to a benefit plan if it is available for their use. For 

example, if an employee is permitted to participate in a medical care plan offered by the employer, but 

the employee declines to do so, he or she is placed in a category with those having access to medical 

care.

Participation: Employees in contributory plans are considered participants in an insurance or retirement 

plan if they have paid required contributions and fulfilled any applicable service requirements. 

Employees in noncontributory plans are counted as participating regardless of whether they have 

fulfilled the service requirements. Note that the term "incidence" can refer to either rates of access or 

rates of participation in a benefit plan. 

3
Take-up rate: The percentage of workers with access to a plan who participate in the plan. 

Retirement benefits include defined benefit pension plans and defined contribution retirement plans. 

Workers are counted as having access or participating in retirement benefits if they have access or 

participate in at least one type of plan, defined benefit or defined contribution; some workers may have 

access to or participate in both. Differences in retirement plan participation are influenced by type of 

plan offered. Participation in defined benefit plans is often mandatory, subject to any applicable 

eligibility requirements, while participation in defined contribution plans is often voluntary. 

Medical care plans provide services or payments for services rendered in the hospital or by a qualified 

medical care provider. 

Calculation details: 

Average hourly earnings from sampled occupations within an establishment were used to produce 

estimates for worker groups within six earnings categories: the lowest 10 percent, the lowest 25 percent, 

the second 25 percent, the third 25 percent, the highest 25 percent, and the highest 10 percent. The 

categories are based on unpublished March 2016 wages and salaries series from the Employer Costs for 

Employee Compensation at www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/ecec_06092016.pdf. 

The percentiles were computed using earnings and scheduled hours of work reported for individual 

workers in sampled establishment jobs. Establishments in the survey are asked to report only individual 

worker earnings for each sampled job. For the calculation of the hourly percentile values, the individual 

worker hourly earnings are weighted and arrayed from lowest to highest. The values corresponding to 

the percentiles are: 

Characteristics

Hourly wage percentiles

10 25 50 

(median) 75 90 

Civilian $9.54 $12.40 $18.52 $29.80 $45.36 

 Private industry 9.37 12.00 17.73 28.60 44.33

 State and local government 12.70 16.71 24.20 35.99 49.79

The lowest 10-percent and 25-percent wage categories include those occupations with an average hourly 

wage less than the 10th percentile value and 25th percentile value, respectively. The second 25-percent 

category includes those occupations that earn at or above the 25th percentile value but less than the 50th 

percentile value. The third 25-percent category includes those occupations that earn at or above the 50th 

percentile value but less than the 75th percentile value. Finally, the highest 25- and 10 percent wage 

categories include those occupations with an average wage value greater than or equal to the 75th and 

90th percentile value, respectively. 

Individual workers can be in earnings category that is different from the occupation into which they are 

classified because average hourly earnings for the occupation are used to produce the benefit estimates. 

4
Table 1. Retirement benefits:1 Access, participation, and take-up rates,2 March 2016

(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 ............................................................. 69 54 78 66 49 75 90 81 90

Worker characteristics

Management, professional, and related ................ 84 72 86 81 69 85 92 81 89

Management, business, and financial ............... 86 76 88 85 75 88 – – –

Professional and related .................................... 83 70 85 79 65 83 92 81 89

Teachers ........................................................ 84 73 87 – – – 91 80 88

Primary, secondary, and special education

school teachers ........................................ 94 83 88 – – – 99 88 89

Registered nurses ......................................... 88 72 81 – – – – – –

Service ................................................................... 47 31 65 41 23 56 86 78 90

Protective service .............................................. 78 62 79 60 31 52 92 85 92

Sales and office ..................................................... 71 52 74 69 50 72 91 82 90

Sales and related ............................................... 66 41 61 66 41 61 – – –

Office and administrative support ...................... 74 59 80 72 56 78 92 83 90

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance 65 53 81 62 49 79 97 91 94

Construction, extraction, farming, fishing, and

forestry ............................................................. 62 50 82 57 45 79 – – –

Installation, maintenance, and repair ................. 69 55 80 67 52 78 – – –

Production, transportation, and material moving ... 71 54 76 70 53 75 85 78 91

Production ......................................................... 74 56 76 74 56 75 – – –

Transportation and material moving .................. 68 52 76 67 50 74 – – –

Full time ................................................................. 80 65 81 77 60 78 99 89 90

Part time ................................................................ 37 22 59 37 21 56 40 34 85

Union ..................................................................... 94 84 90 91 81 90 97 87 89

Nonunion ............................................................... 65 49 75 64 46 73 84 76 90

Average wage within the following categories:4

Lowest 25 percent ............................................. 44 24 56 42 22 52 76 68 89

Lowest 10 percent ......................................... 33 15 45 33 14 42 63 55 87

Second 25 percent ............................................ 71 52 74 65 45 69 93 84 90

Third 25 percent ................................................ 81 68 84 78 64 82 95 86 91

Highest 25 percent ............................................ 89 79 89 87 76 88 98 87 89

Highest 10 percent ........................................ 90 80 89 88 79 90 97 84 86

See footnotes at end of table.

5
Table 1. Retirement benefits:1 Access, participation, and take-up rates,2 March 2016—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 ................................... 75 60 81 74 60 80 – – –

Service-providing industries .................................. 69 53 77 64 47 74 90 81 90

Education and health services ........................... 79 65 83 72 56 79 92 81 88

Educational services ...................................... 87 77 88 72 64 88 92 81 88

Elementary and secondary schools ........... 89 80 89 – – – 92 82 89

Junior colleges, colleges, and universities 88 77 87 88 77 88 89 77 86

Health care and social assistance ................. 73 57 78 71 55 77 91 79 87

Hospitals .................................................... 91 78 85 – – – 94 79 84

Public administration ......................................... 91 83 92 – – – 91 83 92

1 to 99 workers ...................................................... 53 38 71 52 36 70 80 72 91

1 to 49 workers .................................................. 48 34 71 47 33 70 73 66 91

50 to 99 workers ................................................ 67 48 72 65 46 70 90 81 90

100 workers or more .............................................. 86 70 82 83 66 79 92 82 90

100 to 499 workers ............................................ 81 62 77 80 59 74 88 81 92

500 workers or more .......................................... 91 78 86 90 76 85 93 83 89

Geographic areas

Northeast ............................................................... 71 58 82 68 55 80 91 82 90

New England ..................................................... 72 59 81 70 55 78 85 81 95

Middle Atlantic ................................................... 71 58 82 68 55 81 93 82 88

South ..................................................................... 70 52 74 66 47 71 92 82 89

South Atlantic .................................................... 70 54 76 67 49 73 90 81 89

East South Central ............................................ 73 51 70 68 44 65 95 83 87

West South Central ........................................... 68 50 74 64 45 70 92 83 91

Midwest ................................................................. 73 57 78 70 53 76 87 77 89

East North Central ............................................. 72 56 78 70 53 76 85 78 91

West North Central ............................................ 75 58 77 72 54 75 91 77 85

West ...................................................................... 63 50 80 59 45 77 91 83 91

Mountain ............................................................ 66 50 76 62 46 74 88 77 88

Pacific ................................................................ 62 51 81 57 45 78 92 86 93

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 are

participating 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 Surveyed occupations are classified into wage categories based on the average wage for the occupation, which may include workers with earnings both above and below

the threshold. The categories were formed using percentile estimates generated using wage data for March 2016.

Note: Dash indicates no workers in this category or data did not meet publication criteria. For definitions of major plans, key provisions, and related terms, see the "Glossary of

Employee Benefit Terms" at www.bls.gov/ncs/ebs/glossary20152016.htm.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Compensation Survey.

6
Table 2. Medical care benefits: Access, participation, and take-up rates,1 March 2016

(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 ............................................................. 70 52 75 67 49 73 88 73 83

Worker characteristics

Management, professional, and related ................ 87 68 78 86 66 77 89 73 82

Management, business, and financial ............... 94 73 78 94 73 77 – – –

Professional and related .................................... 84 66 78 82 62 76 89 72 82

Teachers ........................................................ 81 66 81 – – – 88 72 82

Primary, secondary, and special education

school teachers ........................................ 94 76 81 – – – 98 80 82

Registered nurses ......................................... 88 63 72 – – – – – –

Service ................................................................... 45 29 65 39 23 58 82 69 84

Protective service .............................................. 68 52 77 40 20 51 90 76 85

Sales and office ..................................................... 68 49 73 66 47 71 89 75 83

Sales and related ............................................... 55 37 68 55 37 67 – – –

Office and administrative support ...................... 76 57 75 74 54 73 90 75 83

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance 74 60 81 72 58 80 95 81 85

Construction, extraction, farming, fishing, and

forestry ............................................................. 68 56 82 65 53 82 – – –

Installation, maintenance, and repair ................. 80 64 79 79 62 79 – – –

Production, transportation, and material moving ... 74 55 75 74 55 74 81 68 85

Production ......................................................... 80 61 75 80 61 75 – – –

Transportation and material moving .................. 69 51 74 68 49 73 – – –

Full time ................................................................. 88 66 76 86 63 74 99 82 83

Part time ................................................................ 19 12 61 19 11 59 24 17 71

Union ..................................................................... 94 79 84 93 78 85 95 79 84

Nonunion ............................................................... 66 48 72 65 46 71 81 67 82

Average wage within the following categories:3

Lowest 25 percent ............................................. 36 22 61 33 19 57 70 57 81

Lowest 10 percent ......................................... 22 11 49 22 11 48 56 45 80

Second 25 percent ............................................ 75 54 73 71 50 70 91 77 84

Third 25 percent ................................................ 87 68 79 85 65 77 94 78 83

Highest 25 percent ............................................ 93 74 79 92 72 78 97 80 82

Highest 10 percent ........................................ 94 74 79 93 72 78 96 80 83

See footnotes at end of table.

7
Table 2. Medical care benefits: Access, participation, and take-up rates,1 March 2016—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 ................................... 84 66 79 84 66 79 – – –

Service-providing industries .................................. 68 50 74 64 46 71 88 72 83

Education and health services ........................... 79 59 75 74 52 70 88 72 81

Educational services ...................................... 85 69 80 76 57 75 88 72 82

Elementary and secondary schools ........... 87 70 80 – – – 88 72 81

Junior colleges, colleges, and universities 88 71 80 90 68 76 87 72 83

Health care and social assistance ................. 75 53 70 73 51 70 90 70 77

Hospitals .................................................... 91 69 76 – – – 94 73 78

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

1 to 99 workers ...................................................... 56 40 71 55 39 70 76 63 83

1 to 49 workers .................................................. 52 37 70 52 36 69 69 57 84

50 to 99 workers ................................................ 67 49 73 66 47 72 88 72 82

100 workers or more .............................................. 84 65 77 82 62 75 89 74 83

100 to 499 workers ............................................ 79 59 75 79 58 74 85 70 82

500 workers or more .......................................... 89 71 79 88 68 77 91 75 83

Geographic areas

Northeast ............................................................... 71 53 75 68 50 73 88 74 84

New England ..................................................... 69 50 73 66 46 71 87 70 81

Middle Atlantic ................................................... 71 54 76 69 51 74 88 75 85

South ..................................................................... 71 53 74 68 48 71 91 76 84

South Atlantic .................................................... 71 52 73 67 48 71 90 74 83

East South Central ............................................ 75 56 74 71 49 69 95 85 90

West South Central ........................................... 70 52 74 67 49 73 90 74 82

Midwest ................................................................. 71 51 72 69 49 71 82 63 78

East North Central ............................................. 70 51 72 69 49 71 79 62 78

West North Central ............................................ 71 52 73 69 49 72 86 66 77

West ...................................................................... 69 53 78 65 50 76 89 75 84

Mountain ............................................................ 68 51 75 65 48 74 87 73 85

Pacific ................................................................ 69 55 79 66 51 78 90 75 84

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 Surveyed occupations are classified into wage categories based on the average wage for the occupation, which may include workers with earnings both above and below

the threshold. The categories were formed using percentile estimates generated using wage data for March 2016.

Note: Dash indicates no workers in this category or data did not meet publication criteria. For definitions of major plans, key provisions, and related terms, see the "Glossary of

Employee Benefit Terms" at www.bls.gov/ncs/ebs/glossary20152016.htm.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Compensation Survey.

8
Table 3. Medical plans: Share of premiums paid by employer and employee for single

coverage, March 2016

(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 ....................................................... 81 19 79 21 87 13

Worker characteristics

Management, professional, and related ................ 82 18 80 20 87 13

Management, business, and financial ............... 81 19 80 20 – –

Professional and related .................................... 83 17 80 20 87 13

Teachers ........................................................ 86 14 – – 87 13

Primary, secondary, and special education

school teachers ........................................ 85 15 – – 86 14

Registered nurses ......................................... 81 19 – – – –

Service ................................................................... 82 18 80 20 88 12

Protective service .............................................. 87 13 83 17 88 12

Sales and office ..................................................... 79 21 77 23 88 12

Sales and related ............................................... 75 25 75 25 – –

Office and administrative support ...................... 80 20 78 22 88 12

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance 81 19 80 20 86 14

Construction, extraction, farming, fishing, and

forestry ............................................................. 82 18 81 19 – –

Installation, maintenance, and repair ................. 80 20 79 21 – –

Production, transportation, and material moving ... 80 20 80 20 84 16

Production ......................................................... 79 21 79 21 – –

Transportation and material moving .................. 81 19 81 19 – –

Full time ................................................................. 81 19 79 21 87 13

Part time ................................................................ 78 22 77 23 85 15

Union ..................................................................... 87 13 87 13 87 13

Nonunion ............................................................... 79 21 78 22 87 13

Average wage within the following categories:2

Lowest 25 percent ............................................. 77 23 76 24 87 13

Lowest 10 percent ......................................... 75 25 75 25 88 12

Second 25 percent ............................................ 80 20 78 22 88 12

Third 25 percent ................................................ 82 18 80 20 88 12

Highest 25 perecnt ............................................ 82 18 81 19 86 14

Highest 10 percent ........................................ 82 18 81 19 87 13

See footnotes at end of table.

9
Table 3. Medical plans: Share of premiums paid by employer and employee for single

coverage, March 2016—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 ................................... 80 20 80 20 – –

Service-providing industries .................................. 81 19 79 21 87 13

Education and health services ........................... 82 18 79 21 87 13

Educational services ...................................... 85 15 80 20 86 14

Elementary and secondary schools ........... 86 14 – – 86 14

Junior colleges, colleges, and universities 85 15 80 20 88 12

Health care and social assistance ................. 80 20 79 21 88 12

Hospitals .................................................... 81 19 – – 88 12

Public administration ......................................... 87 13 – – 87 13

1 to 99 workers ...................................................... 80 20 79 21 91 9

1 to 49 workers .................................................. 81 19 80 20 91 9

50 to 99 workers ................................................ 78 22 77 23 91 9

100 workers or more .............................................. 81 19 79 21 87 13

100 to 499 workers ............................................ 79 21 78 22 86 14

500 workers or more .......................................... 83 17 80 20 87 13

Geographic areas

Northeast ............................................................... 82 18 81 19 85 15

New England ..................................................... 79 21 79 21 82 18

Middle Atlantic ................................................... 83 17 82 18 87 13

South ..................................................................... 80 20 78 22 87 13

South Atlantic .................................................... 79 21 77 23 88 12

East South Central ............................................ 80 20 78 22 87 13

West South Central ........................................... 79 21 78 22 85 15

Midwest ................................................................. 80 20 78 22 87 13

East North Central ............................................. 79 21 78 22 86 14

West North Central ............................................ 81 19 79 21 89 11

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

Mountain ............................................................ 81 19 80 20 89 11

Pacific ................................................................ 83 17 82 18 88 12

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 Surveyed occupations are classified into wage categories based on the average wage for the occupation, which may include workers with

earnings both above and below the threshold. The categories were formed using percentile estimates generated using wage data for March 2016.

Note: Dash indicates no workers in this category or data did not meet publication criteria. For definitions of major plans, key provisions, and related

terms, see the "Glossary of Employee Benefit Terms" at www.bls.gov/ncs/ebs/glossary20152016.htm.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Compensation Survey.

10
Table 4. Medical plans: Share of premiums paid by employer and employee for family

coverage, March 2016

(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 ....................................................... 68 32 68 32 71 29

Worker characteristics

Management, professional, and related ................ 69 31 69 31 69 31

Management, business, and financial ............... 71 29 70 30 – –

Professional and related .................................... 68 32 68 32 68 32

Teachers ........................................................ 66 34 – – 67 33

Primary, secondary, and special education

school teachers ........................................ 65 35 – – 66 34

Registered nurses ......................................... 69 31 – – – –

Service ................................................................... 67 33 64 36 74 26

Protective service .............................................. 77 23 72 28 78 22

Sales and office ..................................................... 66 34 65 35 73 27

Sales and related ............................................... 63 37 63 37 – –

Office and administrative support ...................... 67 33 66 34 73 27

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance 69 31 69 31 74 26

Construction, extraction, farming, fishing, and

forestry ............................................................. 69 31 68 32 – –

Installation, maintenance, and repair ................. 70 30 69 31 – –

Production, transportation, and material moving ... 71 29 71 29 67 33

Production ......................................................... 71 29 71 29 – –

Transportation and material moving .................. 70 30 71 29 – –

Full time ................................................................. 69 31 68 32 71 29

Part time ................................................................ 64 36 63 37 70 30

Union ..................................................................... 80 20 83 17 78 22

Nonunion ............................................................... 65 35 65 35 64 36

Average wage within the following categories:2

Lowest 25 percent ............................................. 61 39 62 38 65 35

Lowest 10 percent ......................................... 61 39 62 38 58 42

Second 25 percent ............................................ 66 34 64 36 73 27

Third 25 percent ................................................ 70 30 68 32 71 29

Highest 25 percent ............................................ 72 28 72 28 73 27

Highest 10 percent ........................................ 73 27 73 27 77 23

See footnotes at end of table.

11
Table 4. Medical plans: Share of premiums paid by employer and employee for family

coverage, March 2016—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 ................................... 72 28 72 28 – –

Service-providing industries .................................. 68 32 67 33 71 29

Education and health services ........................... 65 35 64 36 67 33

Educational services ...................................... 66 34 66 34 66 34

Elementary and secondary schools ........... 64 36 – – 64 36

Junior colleges, colleges, and universities 70 30 71 29 70 30

Health care and social assistance ................. 65 35 64 36 74 26

Hospitals .................................................... 72 28 – – 73 27

Public administration ......................................... 77 23 – – 77 23

1 to 99 workers ...................................................... 64 36 64 36 73 27

1 to 49 workers .................................................. 65 35 64 36 74 26

50 to 99 workers ................................................ 64 36 63 37 71 29

100 workers or more .............................................. 71 29 71 29 70 30

100 to 499 workers ............................................ 68 32 67 33 70 30

500 workers or more .......................................... 73 27 75 25 71 29

Geographic areas

Northeast ............................................................... 75 25 73 27 82 18

New England ..................................................... 73 27 71 29 79 21

Middle Atlantic ................................................... 76 24 74 26 84 16

South ..................................................................... 63 37 63 37 60 40

South Atlantic .................................................... 66 34 65 35 68 32

East South Central ............................................ 61 39 65 35 49 51

West South Central ........................................... 59 41 60 40 55 45

Midwest ................................................................. 70 30 69 31 76 24

East North Central ............................................. 71 29 70 30 78 22

West North Central ............................................ 68 32 67 33 74 26

West ...................................................................... 70 30 69 31 75 25

Mountain ............................................................ 68 32 68 32 67 33

Pacific ................................................................ 71 29 69 31 78 22

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 Surveyed occupations are classified into wage categories based on the average wage for the occupation, which may include workers with

earnings both above and below the threshold. The categories were formed using percentile estimates generated using wage data for March 2016.

Note: Dash indicates no workers in this category or data did not meet publication criteria. For definitions of major plans, key provisions, and related

terms, see the "Glossary of Employee Benefit Terms" at www.bls.gov/ncs/ebs/glossary20152016.htm.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Compensation Survey.

12
Table 5. Life insurance benefits: Access, participation, and take-up rates,1 March 2016

(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 ............................................................. 59 57 98 55 54 98 80 78 98

Worker characteristics

Management, professional, and related ................ 77 76 99 75 75 99 80 78 98

Management, business, and financial ............... 83 83 99 83 83 99 – – –

Professional and related .................................... 74 73 98 71 71 99 79 77 98

Teachers ........................................................ 73 71 98 – – – 79 77 98

Primary, secondary, and special education

school teachers ........................................ 82 81 98 – – – 86 84 98

Registered nurses ......................................... 77 77 99 – – – – – –

Service ................................................................... 34 32 95 27 25 94 77 76 98

Protective service .............................................. 71 69 97 50 47 95 86 85 98

Sales and office ..................................................... 56 55 98 54 52 98 81 80 98

Sales and related ............................................... 42 40 96 41 40 96 – – –

Office and administrative support ...................... 64 63 98 62 61 98 82 80 98

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance 58 56 97 54 53 97 93 91 99

Construction, extraction, farming, fishing, and

forestry ............................................................. 51 49 97 46 44 97 – – –

Installation, maintenance, and repair ................. 65 63 97 62 61 97 – – –

Production, transportation, and material moving ... 63 60 97 62 60 97 77 74 97

Production ......................................................... 68 66 98 68 66 98 – – –

Transportation and material moving .................. 58 55 96 56 54 95 – – –

Full time ................................................................. 74 73 98 71 70 98 90 88 98

Part time ................................................................ 12 11 89 12 10 88 22 21 96

Union ..................................................................... 85 83 97 84 80 96 86 85 98

Nonunion ............................................................... 54 53 98 52 51 98 74 72 97

Average wage within the following categories:3

Lowest 25 percent ............................................. 24 22 92 21 19 91 64 62 98

Lowest 10 percent ......................................... 14 12 86 13 11 83 50 49 97

Second 25 percent ............................................ 61 60 98 57 55 97 84 83 98

Third 25 percent ................................................ 75 74 98 71 70 98 84 83 98

Highest 25 percent ............................................ 84 83 99 82 82 99 89 87 97

Highest 10 percent ........................................ 86 85 99 85 85 99 89 85 96

See footnotes at end of table.

13
Table 5. Life insurance benefits: Access, participation, and take-up rates,1 March 2016—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 ................................... 70 68 98 70 68 98 – – –

Service-providing industries .................................. 57 55 98 52 51 97 80 78 98

Education and health services ........................... 69 68 99 62 62 99 80 78 98

Educational services ...................................... 77 75 98 67 66 98 79 78 98

Elementary and secondary schools ........... 76 74 98 – – – 78 76 98

Junior colleges, colleges, and universities 85 83 98 87 86 98 84 81 97

Health care and social assistance ................. 63 63 99 62 61 99 83 79 95

Hospitals .................................................... 90 89 99 – – – 91 87 96

Public administration ......................................... 82 81 98 – – – 82 81 98

1 to 99 workers ...................................................... 41 39 97 40 39 97 64 62 96

1 to 49 workers .................................................. 36 35 98 35 34 98 64 62 97

50 to 99 workers ................................................ 55 52 95 54 52 95 64 62 96

100 workers or more .............................................. 76 74 98 74 72 98 82 80 98

100 to 499 workers ............................................ 68 66 98 67 65 98 75 73 98

500 workers or more .......................................... 85 83 98 85 84 99 85 83 98

Geographic areas

Northeast ............................................................... 59 58 98 56 55 98 81 79 98

New England ..................................................... 58 56 97 56 54 98 71 66 92

Middle Atlantic ................................................... 60 59 99 56 55 98 85 84 99

South ..................................................................... 61 59 97 57 55 97 82 80 97

South Atlantic .................................................... 60 59 98 56 55 98 83 81 98

East South Central ............................................ 62 59 96 56 53 96 89 85 96

West South Central ........................................... 62 60 96 60 57 96 76 75 98

Midwest ................................................................. 62 60 98 59 57 98 79 77 98

East North Central ............................................. 61 59 97 58 56 98 79 76 97

West North Central ............................................ 64 63 98 61 59 98 79 79 100

West ...................................................................... 51 50 98 48 47 98 76 75 99

Mountain ............................................................ 54 53 98 50 49 98 80 79 99

Pacific ................................................................ 50 49 98 46 45 98 75 73 98

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 Surveyed occupations are classified into wage categories based on the average wage for the occupation, which may include workers with earnings both above and below

the threshold. The categories were formed using percentile estimates generated using wage data for March 2016.

Note: Dash indicates no workers in this category or data did not meet publication criteria. For definitions of major plans, key provisions, and related terms, see the "Glossary of

Employee Benefit Terms" at www.bls.gov/ncs/ebs/glossary20152016.htm.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Compensation Survey.

14
Table 6. Selected paid leave benefits: Access, March 2016

(All workers = 100 percent)

Characteristics

Civilian1 Private industry State and local government

Paid sick

leave

Paid

vacation

Paid

holidays

Paid sick

leave

Paid

vacation

Paid

holidays

Paid sick

leave

Paid

vacation

Paid

holidays

All workers ............................................................. 68 73 75 64 76 77 90 59 67

Worker characteristics

Management, professional, and related ................ 84 76 81 82 88 89 91 42 55

Management, business, and financial ............... 89 95 96 89 97 97 – – –

Professional and related .................................... 82 68 74 78 83 85 91 35 49

Teachers ........................................................ 83 16 35 – – – 89 10 30

Primary, secondary, and special education

school teachers ........................................ 93 16 31 – – – 96 9 26

Registered nurses ......................................... 79 88 89 – – – – – –

Service ................................................................... 48 55 54 42 52 50 86 76 78

Protective service .............................................. 72 76 77 47 58 64 90 89 87

Sales and office ..................................................... 70 80 81 69 79 81 91 85 86

Sales and related ............................................... 60 72 73 60 72 73 – – –

Office and administrative support ...................... 77 85 86 75 85 86 92 86 87

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance 60 79 81 56 77 79 96 97 96

Construction, extraction, farming, fishing, and

forestry ............................................................. 48 67 69 42 63 66 – – –

Installation, maintenance, and repair ................. 72 90 92 69 90 91 – – –

Production, transportation, and material moving ... 61 80 82 59 81 83 89 64 74

Production ......................................................... 58 87 90 57 87 89 – – –

Transportation and material moving .................. 63 74 76 61 75 76 – – –

Full time ................................................................. 80 87 88 76 91 90 98 66 74

Part time ................................................................ 31 35 39 30 36 40 43 21 28

Union ..................................................................... 86 74 79 76 88 89 97 57 69

Nonunion ............................................................... 65 73 75 63 75 76 84 61 66

Average wage within the following categories:2

Lowest 25 percent ............................................. 41 51 53 39 50 52 77 57 64

Lowest 10 percent ......................................... 28 40 40 27 41 40 65 43 49

Second 25 percent ............................................ 70 82 83 65 81 82 94 84 87

Third 25 percent ................................................ 79 87 88 75 88 89 93 65 74

Highest 25 percent ............................................ 87 79 83 84 91 92 97 35 48

Highest 10 percent ........................................ 90 79 83 87 92 93 98 33 45

See footnotes at end of table.

15
Table 6. Selected paid leave benefits: Access, March 2016—continued

(All workers = 100 percent)

Characteristics

Civilian1 Private industry State and local government

Paid sick

leave

Paid

vacation

Paid

holidays

Paid sick

leave

Paid

vacation

Paid

holidays

Paid sick

leave

Paid

vacation

Paid

holidays

Establishment characteristics

Goods-producing industries ................................... 63 87 89 63 87 89 – – –

Service-providing industries .................................. 68 71 73 64 74 74 90 59 67

Education and health services ........................... 79 66 73 73 79 83 91 42 55

Educational services ...................................... 87 40 53 75 56 65 91 35 49

Elementary and secondary schools ........... 90 28 42 – – – 91 26 41

Junior colleges, colleges, and universities 87 67 79 83 73 81 90 63 78

Health care and social assistance ................. 74 83 86 73 83 86 91 89 91

Hospitals .................................................... 84 93 94 – – – 93 93 93

Public administration ......................................... 89 88 88 – – – 89 88 88

1 to 99 workers ...................................................... 56 68 69 55 68 69 81 66 71

1 to 49 workers .................................................. 54 67 68 53 67 68 74 68 69

50 to 99 workers ................................................ 62 72 73 60 72 73 90 65 73

100 workers or more .............................................. 79 79 82 75 85 87 91 58 67

100 to 499 workers ............................................ 74 80 82 72 83 85 88 60 63

500 workers or more .......................................... 85 77 81 80 89 89 92 58 68

Geographic areas

Northeast ............................................................... 70 73 74 67 76 76 90 55 60

New England ..................................................... 68 69 70 65 73 73 89 47 52

Middle Atlantic ................................................... 71 75 76 68 77 78 91 58 63

South ..................................................................... 66 76 78 62 78 79 91 61 69

South Atlantic .................................................... 66 76 79 61 78 79 92 65 77

East South Central ............................................ 68 78 78 62 81 79 93 63 72

West South Central ........................................... 66 74 75 63 78 79 88 52 53

Midwest ................................................................. 64 74 75 60 77 76 87 55 67

East North Central ............................................. 63 74 75 60 77 76 86 53 66

West North Central ............................................ 65 73 74 60 76 75 90 58 69

West ...................................................................... 71 70 74 68 71 74 91 64 70

Mountain ............................................................ 61 69 71 58 71 73 83 53 58

Pacific ................................................................ 76 70 75 73 71 75 94 68 74

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 Surveyed occupations are classified into wage categories based on the average wage for the occupation, which may include workers with earnings both above and below the

threshold. The categories were formed using percentile estimates generated using wage data for March 2016.

Note: Dash indicates no workers in this category or data did not meet publication criteria. For definitions of major plans, key provisions, and related terms, see the "Glossary of

Employee Benefit Terms" at www.bls.gov/ncs/ebs/glossary20152016.htm.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Compensation Survey.

16
Appendix table 1. Survey establishment response, March 2016

Establishments Civilian Private industry State and local

governments

Total in sampling frame1 ................................ 6,173,978 5,946,179 227,799

 Total in sample ............................................ 11,400 9,811 1,589

 Responding2 .............................................. 8,358 6,886 1,472

 Refused3 .................................................... 2,102 2,009 93

 Out of business or not in survey scope ..... 940 916 24

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 2012 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. 2 Establishments that provided data at the initial interview. 3 Establishments that did not provide data at the initial interview. Data for establishments not responding at

the time of update interviews are imputed. Detailed information on nonresponse adjustment and imputation can

be found in BLS Handbook of Methods, Chapter 8, “National Compensation Measures,” Bureau of Labor

Statistics, on the Internet at www.bls.gov/opub/hom/pdf/homch8.pdf.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Compensation Survey.

17
Appendix table 2. Number of workers represented,1 March 2016

Occupational group2 Civilian workers Private industry

workers

State and local

government

workers

All workers ..................................................... 133,189,200 114,163,700 19,025,500

Management, professional, and related .... 41,161,500 30,594,900 10,566,700

Management, business, and financial ... 12,096,200 10,524,200 –

Professional and related ........................ 29,065,400 20,070,700 8,994,700

Teachers ........................................... 6,698,400 – 5,045,200

Primary, secondary, and special

education school teachers ........... 4,466,600 – 3,738,900

Registered nurses ............................. 3,029,800 – –

Service ...................................................... 28,598,200 24,593,500 4,004,600

Protective service .................................. 3,265,900 1,394,000 1,871,900

Sales and office ......................................... 33,202,200 30,552,300 2,649,900

Sales and related .................................. 12,487,200 12,372,400 –

Office and administrative support .......... 20,715,000 18,179,900 2,535,100

Natural resources, construction, and

maintenance ............................................ 10,523,800 9,531,000 992,800

Construction, extraction, farming,

fishing, and forestry ............................. 5,103,100 4,532,900 –

Installation, maintenance, and repair .... 5,420,700 4,998,100 –

Production, transportation, and material

moving ..................................................... 19,703,600 18,892,100 811,500

Production ............................................. 9,428,000 9,318,100 –

Transportation and material moving ...... 10,275,600 9,574,000 –

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 2010 Standard Occupational Classification system is used to classify workers.

Note: Because of rounding, sums of individual items may not equal totals. Dashes indicate that no estimates for

this characteristic are provided in this publication.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Compensation Survey.

18