Which Benefits Do Most Workers Get? BLS Benefits Data, March 2026
- 72% of private industry workers had access to retirement benefits in March 2026; 52% participated.
- 80% had paid vacation, 81% paid holidays, 81% paid sick leave and 49% paid family and medical leave.
- 71% had access to medical care plans, but only 46% of all private workers participated.
Benefits can be worth thousands of dollars a year, so knowing what is typical helps you judge a job offer. Here are the latest access and participation numbers (BLS Employee Benefits in the United States, March 2026).
Private industry vs. state and local government
| Benefit (March 2026) | Private industry | State and local government |
|---|---|---|
| Retirement benefits (access) | 72% | 92% |
| Defined contribution plan (access) | 70% | 39% |
| Defined benefit pension (access) | 14% | 86% |
| Medical care (access) | 71% | 89% |
| Paid vacation | 80% | 61% |
| Paid holidays | 81% | 68% |
| Paid sick leave | 81% | 93% |
| Paid family and medical leave | 49% | 57% |
| Life insurance | 59% | 84% |
Health, dental and vision
In private industry, 71% of workers had access to medical care plans and 46% participated. Dental care was available to 44% with 32% participating, and vision care to 29% with 22% participating. In state and local government, 89% had medical access (67% participating) and 62% had dental access (50% participating).
Full-time vs. part-time
In private industry, 87% of full-time workers had access to medical care benefits, with a take-up rate of 67%, compared with 23% access and a 47% take-up rate for part-time workers.
Gaps by industry and pay
- Access to paid sick leave ranged from 58% in leisure and hospitality to 98% in information and in finance and insurance.
- Access to nonproduction bonuses ranged from 37% for service occupations to 61% for management, professional and related jobs.
- Student loan repayment assistance was available to 3% of the lowest-paid quarter of private workers and 15% of the highest-paid quarter.
What to do with it
- If an offer lacks a benefit most workers get, ask for it or for pay to make up the difference.
- Ask about the retirement match; it’s part of your pay.
- Check whether part-time roles get benefits before accepting fewer hours.
Published October 27, 2026. Sources are linked in the text.
Header image: original graphic by JobPayRaise.com.
Comments (1)
For the dollar side: employer costs for paid leave averaged $4.40 per hour worked for full-time private industry workers in June 2026, or 8.1% of total compensation. Source: BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, June 2026.