Plan Access, Participation Highest for Public Sector Teachers

An apple for the teacher? The most bountiful bushel of them—and the one most frequently dipped into—appears to be that provided for public-sector teachers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). 

Its most recently released report about employee benefits in the United States, which provides information gathered in March 2023, includes data about retirement plan access and participation in the education community. 

Retirement plan access and participation was virtually unchanged for teachers in the private and public sectors since 2022, according to BLS figures. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Public Sector vs. Private Sector

In general, the BLS data shows, as of March 2023 retirement plan access and participation was higher for teachers in the public sector. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But Glass Half Full 

While access to, and participation in, retirement plans may be higher for educators in the public sector than in the private sector, that of teachers in private-sector schools still is higher than that of most other industry groups in the private sector, as well as the private sector itself.