The National Compensation Survey, released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor, found nearly two-thirds of private industry workers had access to retirement benefits in March, although only 51 percent participated. Among government workers, 89 percent had access to benefits and 86 percent participated. Medical benefits were not quite as popular; 87 percent of governement workers had access to those benefits, but only 73 percent participated. Among the 71 percent of private industry workers with access to medical benefits, only 53 percent participated.

Government employers are shouldering a greater share of their employees' benefits costs for single coverage, taking up 90 percent of costs compared with 81 percent for private industry employers. For family coverage, the share employers paid was more evenly matched. Government employers covered 73 percent of their employees' costs, and private employers covered 71 percent.