Bureau of Labor Statistics: ESOP Participation

In a December article, Defined contribution retirement plans: Who has them and what do they cost?, Eli R. Stoltzfus of the Bureau of Labor Statistics describes participation rates in various types of defined contribution (DC) retirement plans. Overall, he notes that 44% of private sector workers participate in a DC plan.

About 4% of those who participate in DC plans participate in ESOPs, which are far less common than savings and thrift plans, which include 401(k) plans. Seventy-four percent of private sector workers with DC plans participate in savings and thrift plans, followed by 19% in deferred profit sharing plans and 16% in money purchase pension plans.