The good news is that the Participant Deferral Rate rose slightly year on year.
The average participation rate in 401(k) plans was 88% at the end of 2012, according to the 56th Annual Survey of Profit Sharing and 401(k) Plans by the Plan Sponsor Council of America (PSCA). The rate is defined as the average percentage of eligible employees who had a balance in the plan, as the average number of investment choices offered to participants remained at 19 across all employer plans.
The year before the rate was 86%. An average of nearly 81% of eligible employees made contributions to the plan in 2012. The average participant pre-tax deferral rate was 6.8%, compared to 6.4% the year before. Here are some highlights:
