Trends in Individual and Household Pension Coverage

摘要

This study uses data from employee benefit surveys conducted as supplements tothe May 1979, May 1988 and April 1993 Current Population Surveys to examine changes in pension coverage rates for both individuals and households. While overall pension coverage rates for individual workers remained relatively stable from 1979 to 1994, coverage for men fell 5.2 percentage points while coverage for women increased by 5.6 percentage points. Most of the increase in the coverage among women occurred among older and more educated females. The decrease in the coverage rate for men is primary attributable to declines in unionism and manufacturing employment and the rapid growth of 401(k) plans requiring voluntary contributions as a condition for participation.