New Data on Who Gets Stock Options

A 2007 Bureau of Labor Statistics survey indicates that about 8% of all private sector employees (about 9 million people) have stock options. This is down from 9% in the 2006 survey, but the survey does not track the movement away from options to other individual equity plans, such as restricted stock and stock appreciation rights, which have replaced broad-based options in some companies. The survey indicates that 14% of managers and professionals receive options compared to just 2% of service workers and 5% of workers in mining, construction, and maintenance. Workers in other categories fall in the 8% to 10% range. Twelve percent of employees making over $15 per hour received options, compared to 5% of those making less than $15. Workers in other categories fall in the 8% to 10% range. Thirteen percent of employees in companies with over 100 employees get options, compared to 4% in companies smaller than this. Most geographic areas fell close to the national average, but 11% of the workers in the Pacific region received options, compared to just 5% in the East South Central region.

While the data show a predictable skewing towards higher-paid and managerial employees, they also show that millions of relatively low-paid employees, as well as non-managerial employees across all occupations, are also receiving options.