For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Thursday, September 23, 2021                                             USDL-21-1690

Technical information:  (202) 691-6199    ncsinfo@bls.gov    www.bls.gov/ebs
Media contact:          (202) 691-5902    pressoffice@bls.gov

                        EMPLOYEE BENEFITS IN THE UNITED STATES – MARCH 2021

Paid sick leave was available to 77 percent of private industry workers in March 2021, the U.S. Bureau of Labor 
Statistics reported today. Among major occupation groups, access to paid sick leave ranged from 59 percent of
workers in service occupations to 93 percent in management, professional, and related occupations. (See table 6.)

Twenty-three percent of private industry workers had access to paid family leave. These benefits were available 
to 12 percent of workers in the lowest 25th percent wage category and 37 percent of workers in the highest 
25th percent wage category. 

Forty-five percent of private industry workers had access to plans that provide a single amount of time off for
workers to use for multiple purposes, such as vacation, illness, or personal leave, referred to as consolidated
leave plans. Twenty-six percent of union workers and 46 percent of nonunion workers had access to consolidated
leave plans. 

Paid sick leave was available to 92 percent of state and local government workers. Eighty-nine percent of workers
with access to paid sick leave earned or accrued a fixed number of sick leave days per year, and ranged from
59 percent of workers in hospitals to 94 percent of workers in elementary and secondary schools. Ten percent had 
access to sick leave as part of a consolidated leave plan. 

Paid vacations were available to 77 percent of civilian workers. On average, 13 paid vacation days were available 
annually to state and local government workers after 1 year of service and 22 days were available to workers
after 20 years of service. At establishments with less than 100 employees, 22 paid vacation days were available
to state and local government workers after 20 years of service, while 17 days were available to private
industry workers after 20 years of service. 

Health care benefits were available to 71 percent of private industry workers and 54 percent of workers
participated in the benefit, resulting in a 77 percent take-up rate. The take-up rate refers to the percentage of
workers with access to and participating in the employer-sponsored benefit. Eighty-nine percent of state and
local government workers had access to health care benefits, with a take-up rate of 88 percent. 

Dental care benefits were available to 40 percent of private industry workers and 60 percent of state and local
government workers. 

The take-up rate for vision care benefits was 78 percent for state and local government workers. Vision care
benefits were available to 24 percent of nonunion workers and 56 percent of union workers. 

Private industry workers 
  * Paid family leave was available to 11 percent of part-time workers and 27 percent of full-time workers. 
  * Within professional and business services, access to paid vacations ranged from 63 percent of workers in
    administrative and waste services to 93 percent of workers in professional and technical services.
  * Medical care benefits were available to 68 percent of nonunion workers and 95 percent of union workers. 
    The take-up rate was 65 percent for nonunion workers and 81 percent for union workers. 
  * Employers paid 78 percent of medical care premiums for single coverage plans and 66 percent for family
    coverage plans. The average flat monthly premium paid by employers was $475.69 for single coverage and 
    $1,174.00 for family coverage. 

State and local government workers 
  * Paid vacation days were available to 53 percent of local government workers and 86 percent of state
    government workers. 
  * Medical care benefits were available to 72 percent of workers in the lowest 25th percent wage category and
    95 percent in the highest 25th percent wage category.
  * Retirement benefits were available to 92 percent of workers, with a take-up rate of 89 percent.
    Seventy-five percent of workers participated in defined benefit plans and 18 percent participated in defined
    contribution plans.
  * Long-term disability benefits were available to 39 percent of workers, with a take-up rate of 97 percent.
    Sixteen percent of workers in the New England census division had access to long-term disability benefits and
    62 percent of workers in the Mountain division had access. 

Civilian workers 
  * Paid holidays were available to 79 percent of workers. Within education and health services, access to paid
    holidays ranged from 39 percent of workers in elementary and secondary schools to 94 percent of workers in
    hospitals.
  * Forty-three percent of workers participated in defined contribution plans and employee contributions were
    required for 72 percent of these workers.
  * Nonproduction bonuses were available to 22 percent of part-time workers and 46 percent of full-time workers.
  * Thirty-nine percent of workers participated in short-term disability benefits, and 63 percent of these plans
    were insured. Employee contributions were required for 13 percent of these workers. 
  * Flexible work schedules were available to 13 percent of workers. Eight percent of workers in the lowest 25th 
    percent wage category and 23 percent of workers in the highest 25th percent wage category had access to
    flexible work schedules.

Additional March 2021 and historical estimates are available through the database query tool at
www.bls.gov/ncs/ebs/data.htm and additional tables are available at www.bls.gov/ncs/ebs/benefits/2021. 

 _______________________________________________________________________________________________________
|		Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic Impact on March 2021 Benefits Data			|
| The Employee Benefits in the United States reference period was March 2021. No changes in estimation	|
| procedures were necessary due to COVID-19. Additional information is available at 			|
| www.bls.gov/covid19/home.htm.										|
|_______________________________________________________________________________________________________|