Low earners lag on access, participation, and contributions

Share of private-sector employees who lack each, by earnings decile

“Doesn't participate” and “No employer contribution” are one minus the participation and employer-contribution-receipt rates. All three series are among private-sector employees only (the self-employed and government workers are excluded). Deciles are of individual annual earnings among all workers (columns 2–9 are the middle deciles, lowest to highest earnings), so decile bins hold unequal numbers of private-sector employees.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Survey of Income and Program Participation, 2025 release (pooled 2022–2025 panels), December 2024 reference month; EIG analysis.