BLS Perspectives on Paid-Leave Benefits

The Bureau of Labor Statistics has a new report carrying some interesting descriptive statistics on paid-leave benefits. A nugget:

Paid holidays were available to 77 percent of private-industry workers as of March 2008, and paid vacation leave was available to 78 percent of the workers. Sixty eight percent of State and local government workers received paid holidays, and 60 percent received paid vacation leave. Government workers’ access to paid holidays and vacation leave was lower than that of their private-sector counterparts, primarily because workers in education occupations typically work 9 or 10 months per year and many do not receive paid holidays.

I don't know what they mean here by education workers not receiving "paid holidays." My wife never worked during Christmas, Thanksgiving, election day, and a host of other holidays. I can assure you she was still getting paid.