Employee Paid Sick Leave Access Statistics 2026: Coverage by Industry, Wage, and Employer Size

Employee paid sick leave access statistics show a broad national benefit with persistent gaps. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 80% of civilian workers had access to paid sick leave in March 2025. Access differed sharply by wage, work schedule, industry, establishment size, and region.

The BLS National Compensation Survey measures whether workers have access to a benefit. Access does not mean every worker used leave, received the same number of days, or faced the same eligibility rules. This distinction matters when employers compare their policies with the national figures.

Paid sick leave statistics at a glance

Source: BLS Employee Benefits in the United States, March 2025.

Work status creates a large access gap

In private industry, 88% of full-time workers had access to paid sick leave in March 2025, compared with 51% of part-time workers. The 37-point gap is important for businesses that rely on part-time schedules. A company-wide statement that paid sick leave is offered may conceal eligibility differences between employee groups.

The BLS categories describe access at the time of the survey. They do not determine whether a worker is legally entitled to leave. Federal, state, and local requirements vary, and employers should confirm current rules in every location where employees work.

Wage level is strongly associated with access

Among private-industry workers, 41% in the lowest 10% wage category had access to paid sick leave. Access reached 95% among workers in the highest 10% wage category. The figures do not prove that wage level alone causes the difference. Occupation, industry, schedule, establishment size, and union status can overlap with wages.

For workforce planning, the gap means an average coverage rate is not enough. Employers should review access by hourly wage band, full-time or part-time status, location, and job family. A policy can appear competitive in aggregate while leaving the lowest-paid or most customer-facing workers with less protection.

Employer size changes the benchmark

BLS data show that 71% of private-industry workers at establishments with fewer than 50 employees had access to paid sick leave in March 2025. Access was 82% at establishments with 50 to 99 workers, 87% at those with 100 to 499 workers, and 89% at establishments with 500 or more workers.

These are worker-weighted access rates, not the percentage of businesses offering leave. A large establishment contributes more workers to the estimate than a small one. Small-business owners should not interpret the 71% figure as saying that 71% of small companies offer the benefit.

Industry and occupation matter

Paid sick leave is more common in management, professional, and related occupations than in service occupations. Industry differences also reflect work arrangements and benefit design. An employer comparing itself with the national average should use the closest available industry and occupation table rather than one overall rate.

The National Compensation Survey also separates fixed-number-of-days plans, consolidated leave plans, and other structures. Two workers may both have access while receiving different accrual rates, waiting periods, carryover rights, or maximum balances.

What employers should measure

An internal paid-leave dashboard can distinguish policy availability from real access:

Do not treat low use as proof that employees do not need the benefit. Workers may not know the policy, may fear attendance consequences, or may be saving limited hours for a future event.

Administrative support can keep balances, documents, and employee questions organized. A human resources virtual assistant can support documented workflows, while policy interpretation, legal compliance, accommodation decisions, and sensitive employee matters remain with qualified HR and legal owners.

Frequently asked questions

What percentage of U.S. workers have paid sick leave?

BLS reported that 80% of civilian workers had access in March 2025. Civilian workers combine private-industry and state and local government workers; federal employees are outside this measure.

Do part-time workers usually have paid sick leave?

In private industry, 51% of part-time workers had access in March 2025, compared with 88% of full-time workers. Individual rights and policies depend on employer rules and applicable law.

Are small employers less likely to provide access?

Workers at smaller establishments had lower access in the BLS data. The rate was 71% at establishments with fewer than 50 workers and 89% at establishments with 500 or more. These are worker access rates, not percentages of employers.

Sources and methodology

1. BLS, Employee Benefits in the United States, March 2025. Main access estimates.
2. BLS, National Compensation Survey: Employee Benefits in the United States. Definitions and tables.
3. BLS, Glossary of Employee Benefit Terms. Access, participation, and plan definitions.
4. U.S. Department of Labor, State Paid Sick Leave Laws. Legal-reference starting point.
5. Congressional Research Service, Paid Family and Medical Leave in the United States. Policy context and distinction among leave types.

This article uses sources available on September 22, 2026. BLS estimates are statistical measures with sampling error. They describe benefit access, not use, legal entitlement, or the share of employers offering a plan.