A total of more than 1 million people have enrolled since Oct. 1, a jump from Nov. 30 when just 365,000 had signed up for private insurance in the new federal and state markets offering subsidized coverage.

Employees identify lower cost (compared with purchasing benefits on their own) and choice as strong advantages of voluntary benefits.

The agencies also have drafted regulations affecting dental plans, vision plans and EAPs.

The Labor Department says employers added jobs in 43 states and cut jobs in just seven.