Who Gets Health Care Benefits at Work?

Medical care benefits were available to 69 percent of private industry workers and 89 percent of state and local government workers in March 2018, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports.

In private industry, access to employer-sponsored medical care benefits varied by establishment size. Fifty-five percent of private industry workers in small establishments (those with fewer than 100 employees) were offered medical care benefits.

These benefits were offered to 83 percent of workers in medium-size establishments (those employing between 100 and 499 workers) and 88 percent of workers in large establishments (those with 500 employees or more). In state and local government, medical care benefits were available to 85 percent of workers in small establishments, 86 percent of workers in medium-size establishments, and 92 percent of workers in large establishments.

In private industry, paid sick leave was available to 62 percent of workers in small establishments, 79 percent of workers in medium-size establishments, and 87 percent of workers in large establishments.

Small establishments provided paid vacation to 70 percent of workers, whereas the benefit was provided to 85 percent of those working in medium-size establishments and 89 percent of those working in large establishments.

Access to paid holidays was available to 71 percent of workers in small establishments, 86 percent of workers in medium-size establishments, and 88 percent of workers in large establishments.