The changing distribution of pension coverage

Data from the Current Population Surveys reveal that between 1979 and 1993 the gap in pension coverage between workers with less than 12 years of educ ation and those with more than 16 years of education nearly tripled among m en and more than quadrupled among women. The empirical analysis reveals tha t differences in labor market characteristics related to gender and educati on have grown over time and can account for virtually all the changing dist ribution of coverage. There is mixed evidence on the extent to which the gr owth of the 401(k) plan has contributed to the changing distribution of cov erage.