New Economy Index Home
Introduction
SECTION I
What's New About The New Economy?
SECTION II
New Economy Outcomes: Impacts on Americans
Growth and Productivity
Earnings Inequality
Unemployment
Displacement
Education and Income
Benefits
Contingent Work
Job Tenure
SECTION III
Foundations for Future Growth
Explaining the Productivity Paradox
The Knowledge Economy
Nine Myths About the New Economy
Data Sources
Endnotes
The Authors
IMPACTS
ON AMERICANS
Employee Benefits Have Fallen
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? In addition to wage levels, a key indicator of the well-being of workers is the set of benefits they receive, in particular retirement and health care. We are shifting from a period when employers provided many elements of family security to one where workers must now take greater personal responsibility for sources of economic security.
THE TREND: In general, a smaller percentage of American workers are receiving benefits today than 15 years ago. The share of workers receiving defined-benefit pension plans has fallen from approximately 30 percent of the workforce in 1981 to 20 percent today, while the share of workers receiving pension plans of any type has fallen slightly since the mid-1980s. With the continuing rise of 401-K and other defined-contribution plans, employees are paying a greater share of total pension costs. Likewise, the share of workers without health coverage has increased slightly from about 15 percent of the workforce in 1985 to 18 percent in 1995. And, as the cost of health care has increased, the share of health plans requiring matching contributions from employees has increased significantly.
THE DATA:
Index Home | Introduction
SECTION I | SECTION II | SECTION III
Productivity Paradox | Knowledge Economy
Nine Myths | Data Sources | Endnotes | The Authors
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