July 17, 2002 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Time off most common benefit

Paid time off continued to be the most prevalent benefit available to workers in private establishments in 2000. Paid vacations were available to 80 percent of employees and paid holidays to 77 percent of employees in private industry.

Percent of workers with access to or participating in selected benefits, private industry, 2000
[Chart data—TXT]

In 2000, 52 percent participated in medical care plans. Forty-eight percent were covered by retirement benefits of at least one type, either a defined benefit plan (19 percent) or a defined contribution plan (36 percent), with approximately 7 percent of employees enrolled in both types of plans.

Life insurance was available to over half of all employees in private industry.

These data are produced by the National Compensation Survey. Read more about benefits in "Employee Benefits in Private Industry, 2000," news release USDL 02-389.