Participation in employer-sponsored retirement plans—both pension and defined contribution plans—by heads of families declined two percentage points in 2004 to 46.1% from 48.7% in 2001, according to findings by the
Craig Copeland, who authored the report, said the decline was principally driven by the increase in defined contribution plans. Between the lag in time for eligibility to participate in a 401(k) plan and average participation rates of 70%, fewer people are taking advantage of such plans, Copeland said.
In 2004, 56% of workers had only a 401(k) option available to them, up from 41% in 1992; on the other hand, 26% had only a pension plan available to them in 2004, down from 42% in 1992.
The staff of Money Management Executive ("MME") has prepared these capsule summaries based on reports published by the news sources to which they are attributed. Those news sources are not associated with MME, and have not prepared, sponsored, endorsed, or approved these summaries.
