May 7, 1999 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

More Northeastern workers receive most types of benefits

The Nation’s four broad geographic regions vary in the incidence of employee benefits for full-time employees in small private establishments. In 1996, more than half of workers in the Northeast participated in retirement plans and 70 percent were covered by a medical care plan. The incidence of health care and retirement benefits was somewhat lower in the North Central region and lowest in the South and West.

[Chart data—TXT]

In 1996, more workers in the Northeast received paid leave benefits, including vacation. For example, 90 percent of all Northeast workers received vacation leave in 1996 compared to 81 percent of employees in the West. Other, more widespread, differences were apparent in holiday's and sick leave.

Full-time employees in small private establishments in the Northeast were also most likely to have medical care, vision care, and outpatient prescription drug coverage. In addition, Northeasterners were second most likely to participate in dental care, life insurance, and accidental death and dismemberment benefits.

These employment benefits plans data are a product of the Employment Benefits Survey. More information is available in Employee Benefits in Small Private Establishments, 1996, BLS Bulletin 2507 (PDF 530K).