Bureau of Labor Statistics Washington, D.C. 20212 

Technical Contact: USDL: 03-489 

(202) 691-6199 ocltinfo@bls.gov 

Media Contact: FOR RELEASE: 10:00 A.M. (EDT) 

(202) 691-5902 hoyle_k@bls.gov WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2003* 

Internet address: 

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

 (This release was reissued on Monday, November 8, 2004, to correct errors in the data for employer 

assistance for child care in table 4. Also, see www.bls.gov/ncs/ebs/notice112004.htm for important 

information about the estimates of participation in health care plans in table 1 of this news release.)

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS IN PRIVATE INDUSTRY, 2003 

The proportion of employees covered by employer-sponsored medical care plans has fallen gradually over 

the last decade. In March 2003, 45 percent of employees had elected coverage, down from 63 percent in 1992-

3, according to data released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. The large 

majority of employees covered by medical care plans were in plans requiring employee contributions for both 

single coverage and family coverage. Employee contributions to medical care premiums averaged $228.98 per 

month for family coverage; for single coverage, employee contributions averaged $60.24 per month. Since 

1992-3, the average monthly contribution required of employees has risen about 75 percent for both family and 

single coverage. 

Just under half of private industry employees participated in an employer provided retirement plan. Twenty 

percent of employees were in defined benefit plans and 40 percent were covered by defined contribution plans. 

(Some employees participate in both types.) The overall coverage of retirement plans has held relatively 

steady for the last few years. The mix of plans, however, has changed. Defined benefit plans cover a smaller 

portion of workers than they did 10 years ago, while defined contribution plans cover a larger portion. 

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

occupational earnings, compensation cost trends, and details of benefit provisions. The focus of this news 

release is on the incidence of employee benefits, ranging from health and retirement benefits to subsidized 

commuting; it also includes data on employee contributions to medical care plans. 

Beginning with this news release, BLS is presenting benefit incidence and provisions data in new ways. 

This is a result of the consolidation of several compensation surveys into a single program of compensation 

statistics, the National Compensation Survey (NCS). Among the goals of the NCS are more timely 

United States 

Department News of Labor 
2

publication, a greater variety of data, and new series that link benefit costs to benefit incidence and provisions. 

(For more information on current and upcoming changes, please see the Technical Note.) In addition to health 

and retirement plans, the survey also covered paid leave, life and disability insurance, and other selected 

benefits. (See tables 2-4.) 

Worker characteristics 

Access to and participation in benefit plans varied by occupational group, full- and part-time work 

schedule, union status, and earnings. For example, workers in white-collar occupations were more likely to 

participate in defined contribution plans than service workers. Union workers had higher rates of coverage for 

most benefits. Paid leave benefits (vacations, holidays, etc.) were commonly available to most workers 

regardless of occupation or union status but were reported less frequently for part-time workers. 

For the first time in 2003, data on availability of benefits were tabulated separately for workers in jobs 

averaging under and over $15 an hour. (Please see the Technical Note for further details.) Those in jobs 

averaging $15 an hour or more were far more likely to be covered by all benefits. For example, workers in 

higher paid occupations were twice as likely as workers in lower paid jobs to participate in health and 

retirement plans. 

Establishment characteristics 

The incidence of benefits varied by industry, establishment size, and location. Benefits were more 

commonly offered to workers in goods-producing than to those in service-providing industries. Workers in 

medium and large private sector establishments (those employing 100 employees and more) were more likely 

to have access to a variety of benefits. The differences were more pronounced in coverage for retirement and 

insurance benefits than for paid leave benefits. For the first time in 2003, NCS data on benefit incidence were 

produced by census division. Coverage for most benefits was more common in the Middle Atlantic, East 

North Central and East South Central divisions. 

For the first time, data are available on the proportion of establishments offering employee benefits. A 

majority of private establishments offered health insurance to employees in March 2003, and about half of 

establishments offered retirement plans. There were sharp differences in the availability of both benefits 

among larger and smaller establishments. Nearly all larger establishments (those employing 100 workers or 

more) offered health insurance, compared with just over half of smaller establishments. Larger establishments 

were nearly twice as likely as smaller establishments to offer retirement plans. The data show the provision of 

health care benefits to retirees is fairly rare except for establishments of 100 workers or more. (See table 8). 

* Footnote 3 in table 5 was added on December 15, 2003. 
3

Table 1: Percent of workers participating in health care and retirement benefits, by selected characteristics, private industry, National

Compensation Survey,1 March 2003

Characteristics

Retirement benefits Health care benefits

All plans2 Defined

benefit

Defined

contribution Medical care Dental care Vision care Plan type notavailable

All employees ....................................... 49 20 40 45 32 19 8

Worker characteristics:3

White-collar occupations4 ..................... 59 22 51 50 37 21 8

Blue-collar occupations4 ....................... 50 24 38 51 33 20 10

Service occupations4 ............................ 21 7 16 22 15 9 3

Full time ................................................ 58 24 48 56 40 23 9

Part time ............................................... 18 8 14 9 6 5 3

Union .................................................... 83 72 39 60 51 37 23

Nonunion .............................................. 45 15 40 44 30 17 7

Average wage less than $15 per hour .. 35 11 29 35 22 12 6

Average wage $15 per hour or higher .. 70 33 57 61 47 28 12

Establishment characteristics:

Goods-producing .................................. 63 31 49 57 42 25 12

Service-producing ................................. 45 16 37 42 29 17 7

1-99 workers ......................................... 35 8 31 36 21 11 6

100 workers or more ............................. 65 33 51 55 44 27 10

Geographic areas:5

Metropolitan areas ................................ 50 21 41 45 33 19 9

Nonmetropolitan areas ......................... 42 14 36 44 27 17 4

New England ........................................ 44 15 37 43 31 14 9

Middle Atlantic ...................................... 56 30 43 47 32 24 9

East North Central ................................ 56 23 46 47 34 17 10

West North Central ............................... 48 21 37 43 31 17 5

South Atlantic ....................................... 46 16 40 44 30 14 7

East South Central ............................... 51 14 46 53 37 28 6

West South Central .............................. 42 18 35 47 30 17 4

Mountain ............................................... 38 10 34 34 28 17 6

Pacific ................................................... 46 20 37 45 33 24 10

1 The survey covers all 50 States and the District of Columbia. 2 Includes defined benefit pension plans and defined contribution

retirement plans. The total is less than the sum of the individual

items because many employees participated in both types of plans. 3 Employees are classified as working either a full-time or

part-time schedule based on the definition used by each

establishment. Union workers are those whose wages are

determined through collective bargaining. 4 A classification system including about 480 individual

occupations is used to cover all workers in the civilian economy. See

the Technical Note for more information. 5 Data are presented for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area

divisions as well as nine census divisions. See the Technical Note

for a list of States comprising the nine census divisions.

NOTE: Because of rounding, sums of individual items may not equal

totals. Where applicable, dash indicates no employees in this

category or data do not meet publication criteria.
4

Table 2: Percent of workers participating in life and disability insurance benefits, by selected

characteristics, private industry, National Compensation Survey,1 March 2003

Characteristics Life

Disability benefits

Short-term

disability

Long-term

disability

All employees ....................................... 47 37 28

Worker characteristics:2

White-collar occupations3 ..................... 54 40 40

Blue-collar occupations3 ....................... 50 44 20

Service occupations3 ............................ 25 20 10

Full time ................................................ 59 45 36

Part time ............................................... 9 12 4

Union .................................................... 61 68 27

Nonunion .............................................. 46 34 29

Average wage less than $15 per hour .. 37 27 16

Average wage $15 per hour or higher .. 64 52 49

Establishment characteristics:

Goods-producing .................................. 58 54 29

Service-producing ................................. 44 32 28

1-99 workers ......................................... 33 26 18

100 workers or more ............................. 64 50 40

Geographic areas:4

Metropolitan areas ................................ 48 38 30

Nonmetropolitan areas ......................... 45 31 17

New England ........................................ 42 33 29

Middle Atlantic ...................................... 46 76 27

East North Central ................................ 53 37 30

West North Central ............................... 46 36 29

South Atlantic ....................................... 49 29 31

East South Central ............................... 59 38 26

West South Central .............................. 48 28 28

Mountain ............................................... 40 19 23

Pacific ................................................... 41 27 28

1 The survey covers all 50 States and the

District of Columbia. 2 Employees are classified as working either

a full-time or part-time schedule based on the

definition used by each establishment. Union

workers are those whose wages are

determined through collective bargaining. 3 A classification system including about 480

individual occupations is used to cover all

workers in the civilian economy. See the

Technical Note for more information.

4 Data are presented for metropolitan and

nonmetropolitan area divisions as well as nine

census divisions. See the Technical Note for a

list of States comprising the nine census

divisions.

NOTE: Because of rounding, sums of

individual items may not equal totals. Where

applicable, dash indicates no employees in this

category or data do not meet publication

criteria.
5

Table 3: Percent of workers with access to selected leave benefits, by selected characteristics, private

industry, National Compensation Survey,1 March 2003

Characteristics Paid holidays Paid vacations Paid jury duty

leave Paid military leave

All employees ................................... 79 79 70 50

Worker characteristics:2

White-collar occupations3 ................. 86 84 79 59

Blue-collar occupations3 ................... 85 84 69 46

Service occupations3 ........................ 54 61 46 34

Full time ............................................ 91 91 77 56

Part time ........................................... 43 40 45 33

Union ................................................ 91 90 85 56

Nonunion .......................................... 78 78 68 50

Average wage less than $15 per

hour .................................................. 72 73 60 42

Average wage $15 per hour or

higher ................................................ 91 90 84 64

Establishment characteristics:

Goods-producing .............................. 90 87 76 56

Service-producing ............................. 76 77 68 48

1-99 workers ..................................... 74 73 57 38

100 workers or more ......................... 86 87 84 64

Geographic areas:4

Metropolitan areas ............................ 79 79 71 51

Nonmetropolitan areas ..................... 80 79 61 44

New England .................................... 77 79 69 54

Middle Atlantic .................................. 83 85 72 54

East North Central ............................ 83 81 73 53

West North Central ........................... 74 71 70 50

South Atlantic ................................... 79 80 71 50

East South Central ........................... 81 79 72 45

West South Central .......................... 77 79 68 53

Mountain ........................................... 75 73 71 51

Pacific ............................................... 80 79 62 41

1 The survey covers all 50 States and the District of

Columbia. 2 Employees are classified as working either a

full-time or part-time schedule based on the definition

used by each establishment. Union workers are those

whose wages are determined through collective

bargaining. 3 A classification system including about 480

individual occupations is used to cover all workers in the

civilian economy. See the Technical Note for more

information. 4 Data are presented for metropolitan and

nonmetropolitan area divisions as well as nine census

divisions. See the Technical Note for a list of States

comprising the nine census divisions.

NOTE: Because of rounding, sums of individual items

may not equal totals. Where applicable, dash indicates

no employees in this category or data do not meet

publication criteria.
6

Table 4. Percent of workers with access to selected benefits, by selected characteristics, private industry, National Compensation

Survey,1 March 2003

Characteristics

Employer assistance for child care

Adoption

assistance

Long-term

care

insurance

Flexible

work place

Employerprovided

home PC

Subsidized

commuting Total2

Employer

provided

funds

On-site

and off-site

child care

Child care

resource

and

referral

services

All employees ........................ c14 3 5 10 9 11 4 2 5

Worker characteristics:3

White-collar occupations4 ..... c20 5 7 15 13 16 6 3 7

Blue-collar occupations4 ....... c812667114

Service occupations4 ............ c824524112

Full time ................................. c16 4 5 12 10 13 4 3 6

Part time ................................ c824554312

Union ..................................... c17 3 7 15 13 16 3 2 8

Nonunion ............................... c14 3 5 10 9 11 4 2 5

Average wage less than $15

per hour ................................. c923556213

Average wage $15 per hour

or higher ................................ c22 5 8 18 16 19 7 4 9

Establishment

characteristics:

Goods-producing ................... c13 3 2 11 9 11 3 3 5

Service-producing ................. c14 3 6 10 9 11 4 2 5

1-99 workers ......................... c522333212

100 workers or more ............. c25 5 8 19 16 20 5 3 9

Geographic areas:5

Metropolitan areas ................ c16 4 5 12 10 12 4 2 6

Nonmetropolitan areas .......... c422224111

New England ......................... c15 2 8 12 11 11 4 2 8

Middle Atlantic ....................... c17 4 6 14 12 12 4 3 8

East North Central ................. c16 3 6 11 10 10 5 2 2

West North Central ................ c13 3 6 8 7 7 2 2 3

South Atlantic ........................ c11 4 3 9 9 14 2 1 2

East South Central ................ c13 4 4 7 4 7 4 1 5

West South Central ............... c11 2 3 8 8 10 2 2 6

Mountain ............................... c17 2 5 12 7 7 5 1 6

Pacific .................................... c13 4 3 10 8 14 5 3 10

1 The survey covers all 50 States and the District of Columbia. 2 The total may be less than the sum of the individual items

because some employees were receiving more than one type of

employer assistance for child care. 3 Employees are classified as working either a full-time or

part-time schedule based on the definition used by each

establishment. Union workers are those whose wages are

determined through collective bargaining. 4 A classification system including about 480 individual

occupations is used to cover all workers in the civilian economy. See

the Technical Note for more information. 5 Data are presented for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area

divisions as well as nine census divisions. See the Technical Note

for a list of States comprising the nine census divisions. c Corrected online on November 8, 2004.

NOTE: Because of rounding, sums of individual items may not equal

totals. Where applicable, dash indicates no employees in this

category or data do not meet publication criteria.
7

Table 5. Percent of medical insurance participants required to contribute and average employee

contribution for single and family coverage, by selected characteristics, private industry, National

Compensation Survey, March 2003

Characteristics

Single coverage Family coverage

Employee

contributions not

required

Employee

contributions

required

Average

flat

monthly

contribution in

dollars

Employee

contributions not

required

Employee

contributions

required

Average

flat

monthly

contribution in

dollars

Total ...................................................... 22 78 $60.24 10 90 $228.98

Worker characteristics:1

White-collar occupations2 ..................... 20 80 61.95 8 92 236.17

Blue-collar occupations2 ....................... 27 73 55.22 13 87 208.18

Service occupations2 ............................ – – – – – –

Full time ................................................ 22 78 59.63 10 90 227.52

Part time ............................................... – – – – – –

Union .................................................... 41 59 49.40 31 69 174.60

Nonunion3 ............................................. 20 80 61.31 7 93 234.35

Average wage less than $15 per hour .. 21 79 62.92 8 92 238.41

Average wage $15 per hour or higher .. 24 76 57.75 12 88 220.04

Establishment characteristics:

Goods-producing .................................. 22 78 50.87 13 87 190.81

Service-producing ................................. 23 77 64.15 9 91 244.08

1-99 workers ......................................... 28 72 66.63 13 87 263.24

100 workers or more ............................. 18 82 56.03 8 92 204.52

Geographic areas:4

Metropolitan areas ................................ 23 77 59.76 10 90 228.28

Nonmetropolitan areas ......................... 21 79 63.19 9 91 233.31

New England ........................................ 19 81 65.79 8 92 220.59

Middle Atlantic ...................................... 26 74 59.78 15 85 228.58

East North Central ................................ 22 78 60.88 15 85 217.30

West North Central ............................... 20 80 59.97 12 88 238.68

South Atlantic ....................................... 16 84 63.61 4 96 246.54

East South Central ............................... 23 77 56.68 6 94 234.44

West South Central .............................. 21 79 60.89 5 95 243.63

Mountain ............................................... 21 79 61.24 8 92 234.83

Pacific ................................................... 32 68 52.75 11 89 202.79

1 Employees are classified as working either a

full-time or part-time schedule based on the definition

used by each establishment. Union workers are those

whose wages are determined through collective

bargaining. 2 A classification system including about 480

individual occupations is used to cover all workers in

the civilian economy. See the Technical Note for more

information. 3 The BLS news release originally issued

September 17, 2003, did not provide estimates for this

series. 4 Data are presented for metropolitan and

nonmetropolitan area divisions as well as nine census

divisions. See the Technical Note for a list of States

comprising the nine census divisions.

NOTE: Because of rounding, sums of individual items

may not equal totals. Where applicable, dash indicates

no employees in this category or data do not meet

publication criteria.
8

Table 6. Participation of medical participants by amount and type of employee contribution for single coverage, 

private industry, National Compensation Survey, March 2003

Characteristics All employees White-collar

occupations

Blue-collar

occupations

Service

occupations

Number (in thousands) with

contributory coverage ........................ 35,888 21,174 11,207 3,507

Percent

Total with contributory coverage ........... 100 100 100 100

Percent

Flat monthly amount ......................... 72 73 72 67

Less than $5.00 ............................ 1 1 1 1 ( )

$5.00 - 9.99 .................................. 2122

$10.00 - 14.99 .............................. 2231

$15.00 - 19.99 .............................. 2131

$20.00 - 29.99 .............................. 8889

$30.00 - 39.99 .............................. 10 9 11 7

$40.00 - 49.99 .............................. 10 9 11 9

$50.00 - 59.99 .............................. 9 10 8 9

$60.00 - 69.99 .............................. 8869

$70.00 - 79.99 .............................. 6674

$80.00 - 89.99 .............................. 2332

$90.00 - 99.99 .............................. 3334

$100.00 - 124.99 .......................... 6833

$125.00 or greater ........................ 4536

Composite rate2 ................................ 1 2 1 ( ) 1 ( )

Varies3 .............................................. 4445

Flexible benefits4 .............................. 2311

Percent of earnings .......................... 1 () 1 1 () 1

Exists, but unknown .......................... 18 16 19 24

Other ................................................. 3242

1 Less than 0.5 percent. 2 A composite rate is a set contribution covering more

than one benefit area, for example, health care and life

insurance. Cost data for individual plans cannot be

determined. 3 Based on worker attributes. For example, employee

contributions may vary based on earnings, length of

service, or age.

4 Amount varies by options selected under a "cafeteria

plan" or employer-sponsored reimbursement account.

NOTE: Because of rounding, sums of individual items

may not equal totals. Where applicable, dash indicates no

employees in this category or data do not meet

publication criteria.
9

Table 7. Participation of medical participants by amount and type of employee contribution for family coverage, 

private industry, National Compensation Survey, March 2003

Characteristics All employees White-collar

occupations

Blue-collar

occupations

Service

occupations

Number (in thousands) with

contributory coverage ........................ 41,377 24,248 13,279 3,850

Percent

Total with contributory coverage ........... 100 100 100 100

Percent

Flat monthly amount ......................... 72 71 74 70

Less than $25.00 .......................... 1122

$25.00 - 49.99 .............................. 3252

$50.00 - 74.99 .............................. 4367

$75.00 - 99.99 .............................. 5543

$100.00 - 124.99 .......................... 6674

$125.00 - 149.99 .......................... 5571

$150.00 - 174.99 .......................... 7777

$175.00 - 199.99 .......................... 6664

$200.00 - 224.99 .......................... 5547

$225.00 - 249.99 .......................... 4452

$250.00 - 274.99 .......................... 4534

$275.00 - 299.99 .......................... 2322

$300.00 - 324.99 .......................... 4443

$325.00 - 349.99 .......................... 2233

$350.00 - 374.99 .......................... 2213

$375.00 - 399.99 .......................... 2225

$400.00 - 424.99 .......................... 2223

$425.00 - 449.99 .......................... 1211

$450.00 - 474.99 .......................... 1112

$475.00 - 499.99 .......................... 1111

$500.00 or greater ........................ 4536

Composite rate2 ................................ 1 1 1 ( ) 1 ( )

Varies3 .............................................. 3333

Flexible benefits4 .............................. 2211

Percent of earnings .......................... 1 ( ) 1 ( ) 1 ( ) 1 ( )

Exists, but unknown .......................... 19 19 18 22

Other ................................................. 3334

1 Less than 0.5 percent. 2 A composite rate is a set contribution covering more

than one benefit area, for example, health care and life

insurance. Cost data for individual plans cannot be

determined. 3 Based on worker attributes. For example, employee

contributions may vary based on earnings, length of

service, or age.

4 Amount varies by options selected under a "cafeteria

plan" or employer-sponsored reimbursement account.

NOTE: Because of rounding, sums of individual items

may not equal totals. Where applicable, dash indicates no

employees in this category or data do not meet

publication criteria.
10

Table 8: Percent of establishments offering health and retirement benefits, and retiree health benefits, by establishment characteristics,

private industry, National Compensation Survey,1 March 2003

Characteristics Retirement

benefits Defined benefits Definedcontribution

Health care

benefits2

Retiree health

under age 65

Retiree health

age 65 and over

All establishments ................................. 47 10 45 58 4 4

Establishment characteristics:

Goods-producing .................................. 45 11 42 60 4 4

Service-producing ................................. 47 10 46 57 5 4

1-99 workers ......................................... 45 9 44 56 4 3

100 workers or more ............................. 88 38 82 95 19 15

Geographic areas:3

Metropolitan areas ................................ 51 10 49 60 5 4

Nonmetropolitan areas ......................... 32 9 31 51 3 3

New England ........................................ 48 11 48 54 1 1

Middle Atlantic ...................................... 49 17 44 63 6 5

East North Central ................................ 62 13 61 84 6 5

West North Central ............................... 38 5 36 36 2 2

South Atlantic ....................................... 54 5 53 55 5 3

East South Central ............................... 52 5 51 58 11 11

West South Central .............................. 39 13 39 58 7 7

Mountain ............................................... 25 7 23 42 2 2

Pacific ................................................... 45 12 43 58 3 3

1 The survey covers all 50 States and the District of Columbia. 2 Health may include a medical plan, or a separate dental, vision, or

prescription drug plan.

3 Data are presented for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area

divisions as well as nine census divisions. See the Technical Note for a

list of States comprising the nine census divisions.
11

TECHNICAL NOTE 

The data in this release are from the National Compensation Survey (NCS), conducted by the Bureau of 

Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. The statistics in this release represent a transitional step in 

combining two formerly separate benefits surveys into a single NCS program. This release contains 2003 data 

on all workers in private industry. Expanded data covering detailed provisions of selected benefit plans are 

forthcoming. 

Prior to 1996, when the survey consolidation began, BLS conducted surveys of the incidence of employee 

benefits in different sectors of the economy in alternating years; the surveys studied medium and large private 

establishments during odd years and small private establishments and state and local governments during even 

years. Separate publications were produced for each sample. In the future, all types of establishments will be 

surveyed each year, and the data will be produced by numerous characteristics, including establishment 

employment size and sector of the economy. 

Under NCS, benefit incidence and provision information is published in two steps. The first, incidence and 

key provisions, will be published approximately six months after the data are collected. This news release has 

data relating to March 2003, the most prompt publication in the history of the benefits incidence series since it 

was launched in 1979. 

The second part will provide detailed information on the characteristics of health and retirement plans. The 

data collection period for compiling these detailed characteristics data was December 2001 through January 

2003; publication is anticipated early next year. 

In addition, BLS is planning to introduce a new set of estimates that link benefit cost information to 

incidence and provisions data. For example, estimates of the cost of health insurance per participant are 

expected to be produced for the first time. Currently, the only estimates available are those of the average cost 

for all employees, regardless of their participation in health insurance plans. The new “linked” estimates are 

expected to begin appearing in 2004. 

The last detailed publication of data on incidence and provision was for calendar year 2000. Because of the 

start up time associated with incorporating a new benefit sample in the NCS program, there will be no 

incidence or provision estimates for 2001 or 2002. Beginning with the release of 2003 data, however, data on 

incidence and detailed provisions are expected to be produced every year. 

Estimates provided here are for private nonagricultural industries. In the past, state and local governments 

have also been surveyed. For the next several years, however, incidence and provision estimates will exclude 

governments because of other commitments in the NCS program. 

Definitions of survey terms 

Incidence, which refers to the number or percentage of employees that receive a benefit plan or specific 

benefit feature, is measured in two ways. Access to a benefit is determined on an occupational basis within an 

establishment; either all employees or no employees in an occupation in an establishment have the benefit 

available to them. The benefits published in tables 3 and 4 refer to employee access. Participation refers to 

the proportion of employees who opt for a benefit. There will be cases where employees with access to a plan 

will not participate. For example, some employees may decline to participate in a health insurance plan if 

there is an employee cost involved. The benefits published in tables 1 and 2 refer to employee participation. 

Due to a change in methodology from prior surveys, the percentage of workers participating in medical plans 
12

may be slightly lower than previously reported. Averages for occupations within an establishment were used 

to produce estimates for below and above $15. 

The data in table 8 present estimates -- for the first time in the survey -- of the proportion of establishments 

that offer retirement and health insurance to their employees. In this instance, the focus shifts from the 

employee to the establishment. If the benefit is available to anyone in the establishment, even those 

occupations not selected for the survey, it meets the definition of “offered” in table 8. Establishments are 

generally defined as single physical locations; the term is not synonymous with “firm” or “company,” because 

a firm could have multiple locations (establishments). The section on survey scope, below, contains more 

information on establishments. 

For a listing of selected benefit definitions, see Glossary of Compensation Terms, U.S Department of 

Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, August 1998, Report 923, or on the Internet at 

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

Survey scope 

The 2003 NCS benefits survey obtained data from 2,924 private industry establishments, representing 

nearly 103 million workers; of this number, nearly 79 million were full-time workers and the remainder--

slightly over 24 million--were part-time workers. The NCS uses the establishment's definition of full- and 

part-time status. For purposes of this survey, an 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. 

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, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Missouri; 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 using a three-stage design. The first stage involved the selection of 

areas. The NCS sample consists of 154 metropolitan areas and nonmetropolitan areas that represent the 

nation's 326 metropolitan statistical areas (as defined by the Office of Management and Budget) and the 

remaining portions of the 50 states. Metropolitan areas are either Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) or 

Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Areas (CMSAs), as defined by the Office of Management and Budget in 

1994. Nonmetropolitan areas are counties 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 establishment size. The number of sample establishments allocated to each stratum is 

approximately proportional to the stratum employment. Each sampled establishment was selected within a 

stratum with a probability proportional to its employment. Use of this technique means that the larger an 

establishment's employment, the greater its chance of selection. Weights were applied to each establishment 

when the data were tabulated so that each establishment represents similar units (in terms of industry and 

employment size) in the economy that were not selected for collection. 
13

The third stage of sample selection was a probability sample of occupations within a sampled 

establishment. Identification of the occupations for which data were to be collected was a four-step process: 

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

2. Classification of jobs into occupations based on the Census of Population system. 

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

4. Determination of the level of work of each job. 

For more detailed information on occupational selection and classification under the National 

Compensation Survey, see National Compensation Survey, Occupational Wages in the United States, July 

2002, U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 2003, Bulletin 2561. For an online 

version, see: http://www.bls.gov/ncs/ocs/sp/ncbl0552.pdf. 

Additional information about the National Compensation Survey may be obtained by calling (202) 691-

6199. You may also write to the Bureau of Labor Statistics at: Division of Compensation Data Analysis and 

Planning, 2 Massachusetts Ave., NE, Room 4175, Washington, DC 20212-0001, or send e-mail to 

OCLTINFO@bls.gov. 

The data contained in this summary are available on the Bureau's Internet site: http://www.bls.gov/ncs. 

Users may access benefits data from previous surveys using 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 

phone: (202) 691-5200; Federal Relay Service: 1-800-877-8339.