The number of workers who participated in workplace retirementplans dropped slightly in 2012 to 39.4%, or 61.6 million Americans.But among full-time, full-year wage and salary workers, 53.5%participated.

According to the Employee Benefit Research Institute, theindividuals who were least likely to participate in anemployer-based plan were non-white, young, female, never married,those having a lower educational attainment, lower earnings, poorhealth, no health insurance, those working part-time or thoseworking in farming, fisheries or forestry occupations.

Those working for smaller firms, private-sector firms or firmsin the “other” services category were also less likely toparticipate in a plan than their comparison groups.

Where people live also had an impact on participation rates.EBRI found that workers in the South and the West were less likelyto participate in a retirement plan than those in other regions ofthe country.

More men than women participated in plans. EBRI found that thegender gap closed quite a bit from 1987 through 2009, but began towiden again from 2010 to 2012. When EBRI controlled for work statusor earnings, however, female participation rates actually surpassedthose of men.

Non-native Hispanics had very low levels of participationcompared to those born and raised in the U.S., which brought theparticipation rate for Hispanics as a whole down. Black andnative-born Hispanic workers had participation levels much closerto those of white workers within each age group, the reportfound.

Participation rates seem to rise or fall depending on how thestock market is doing. During the economic downturn, participationrates declined in workplace retirement plans. The marketstabilized between 2010 and 2012. EBRI believes 2013 participationnumbers will be very similar to 2012, maybe even slightlyhigher.