October 3, 2008 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Variation in life insurance benefits by establishment size, 2008

In March 2008, over half of workers in private industry participated in life insurance benefits. Workers in larger establishments were more likely to participate in such benefits than workers in smaller establishments.

[Chart data—TXT]

In establishments with fewer than 50 workers, 36 percent participated in life insurance and in those with those with 50 to 99 workers, 52 percent participated.

In establishments with 100 to 499 workers, 67 participated in life insurance benefits, and in the largest establishments (500 workers or more), 83 percent participated.

Overall, 56 percent of private-industry workers participated in life insurance benefits in March 2008.

These data are from the BLS National Compensation Survey program. Find out more in National Compensation Survey: Employee Benefits in the United States, March 2008, BLS Bulletin 2715.