DC Plan Participation Leveled Off

Ownership of individual retirement accounts (IRAs), which had also risen significantly in the 1990s, experienced a slight decline from 2005 to 2009.

The EBRI report finds that the proportion of workers ages 21–64 (those most likely to be in the workforce) participating in a 401(k)-type plan increased from 23.3% in 1996 to 33.1% in 2005, before leveling off at 33% in 2009. For IRAs, the report finds that after increasing from 17% at the end of 1996 to 22.9% at the end of 2005, the percentage of workers ages 21–64 who owned an IRA declined to 20.8% by the end of 2009.

The average annual contribution was $4,513 to a 401(k)-type plan in 2009, and $2,801 to an IRA. Few workers (just 5.4% in 2009) made a tax-deductible IRA contribution in 2009.

“These results are not surprising, given the downturn in the economy that occurred between 2005 and 2009,” said Craig Copeland, author of the report. “The unemployment rate reached levels not experienced in more than two decades, housing values fell, and the stock market had a tremendous one-year decline in 2008. Consequently, individuals lost confidence and saving became more difficult, with some needing to tap into savings to pay for their expenses.”

However, Copeland notes the asset levels in these individual account plans have continued to increase overall. These types of plans have become the primary vehicles for retirement savings for private-sector workers in the U.S. IRAs and private-sector defined contribution plans (which include 401(k) plans) held over $8.5 trillion in assets at the end of 2010. 

Full details of the report are published in the October EBRI Notes, at www.ebri.org.