Disability Benefit Coverage Gaps by Occupation, Industry, and Worker Type (March 2024)

This table illustrates disparities in disability benefit access across the U.S. workforce based on March 2024 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Coverage gaps are most severe among service, construction, and production workers, as well as low-wage and part-time employees. These groups face higher exposure to denied or uncovered disability claims under ERISA-governed benefit plans, while large-employer and high-income workers experience far stronger protection.

**Denial exposure is highest among service, construction, and production workers, groups that combine high physical risk with the weakest access to disability benefits. **Smaller employers and low-wage workers face the greatest structural gaps in coverage and are most vulnerable to outright benefit denials or uncovered claims. **Even among full-time workers, nearly half lack long-term disability protection, meaning millions could face denied benefits in the event of serious illness or injury.
Chart: J. Price McNamara Source: BLSDownload imageCreated with Datawrapper