Access to paid and unpaid family leave in 2018

In March 2018, 17 percent of all civilian workers had access to paid family leave, and 89 percent had access to unpaid family leave. Employers provide family leave for employees to care for family members. This leave includes maternity and paternity leave. The leave also may be available to care for a newborn child, an adopted child, a sick child, or a sick adult relative. Access to family leave varied by establishment size.

Sixteen percent of private industry workers had access to paid family leave, and 88 percent had access to unpaid family leave. Eleven percent of workers in the smallest establishments (1 to 49 workers) had access to paid family leave, and 80 percent had access to unpaid family leave. Twenty-five percent of workers in the largest establishments (500 workers or more) had access to paid family leave, and 94 percent had access to unpaid family leave.

Paid family leave was available to 25 percent of state and local government workers, and 94 percent had access to unpaid leave. For workers in the smallest establishments (1 to 49 workers), 23 percent had access to paid family leave, and 93 percent had access to unpaid family leave. For workers in the largest establishments, 25 percent had access to paid family leave and 95 percent had access to unpaid family leave.

These data are from the National Compensation Survey – Benefits program. For more information about employee benefits, see “Employee Benefits in the United States – March 2018” and the glossary of terms. We also have a fact sheet on family leave benefits.