The Fact
In March 2025, only 38% of private-industry workers in the lowest 10% wage category had access to an employer retirement plan, compared with 93% of workers in the highest 10% wage category. Participation was 15% versus 83%.
What This Means
The workers with the least income available to save on their own are also much less likely to have a workplace retirement plan available. Retirement security is therefore tied not only to how much a worker earns, but also to whether the job provides a savings structure at all.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employee Benefits in the United States — March 2025, Table 1, retirement benefits by wage category.