A new survey by the Plan Sponsor Council of America shows that 401(k) participants are increasingly using new plan investment features, while usage of hardship withdrawals and loans remains low despite their wide availability.

PSCA, a national nonprofit association committed to retirement savings through employer-sponsored defined-contribution programs, released its 54^th Annual Survey of Profit Sharing and 401(k) Plans in October. It takes a hard look at current practices and trends in profit sharing and 401(k) plans.

Last year's survey highlighted that target-date funds and Roth 401(k) plans were becoming more prevalent in the industry. This year, the availability of these types of plans have remained the same, but their usage by plan participants has increased significantly. The survey found that nearly two-thirds of plans offer a target-date fund as an investment option, with an average of 13 percent of the plan assets invested, up from 10 percent of assets in 2009 and just 2.6 percent five years ago. Roth 401(k) has become increasingly available over the past few years. Nearly 46 percent of all plans now offer it, up from 18.4 percent in 2006. Nearly 25 percent more participants made Roth 401(k) deferrals in 2010 when offered the option.