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Half of private US workers lack access to paid family leave
BLS data shows 49% of private industry workers had access to paid family and medical leave in March 2026, while 45% had both sick leave and PFML at the same time.
Insurance Business reports that more than half of private industry workers in the US still lack access to paid family and medical leave through their employer. The Bureau of Labor Statistics National Compensation Survey (NCS) put PFML access at 49% for private industry workers in March 2026.
The gap is also tied to differences in access across leave types, with only 45% of private industry workers having access to both paid sick leave and paid family and medical leave simultaneously. Insurance Business said that compliance has moved faster than employer adoption.
The report also highlights state-level PFML mandates, noting that 12 states and Washington, D.C. now have mandatory programs. It said Delaware, Minnesota, and Maine launch benefits in 2026, while Virginia enacted a program in April 2026, with contributions starting in 2028 and benefits beginning that December.
Insurance Business added that employers in mandate states must either participate in the state-administered program or maintain an approved private plan, and that rules differ by jurisdiction, including situations where a remote hire can trigger payroll contribution obligations even if the employer is headquartered elsewhere.