March 2016 US Bureau of Labor Statistics says that 44% of private industry workers participate in a 401k. So no, most Americans do not have a 401k and seeing a

March 2016 US Bureau of Labor Statistics says that 44% of private industry workers participate in a 401k. So no, most Americans do not have a 401k and seeing as that would be one of the easiest / most common ways to access the stock market, therefore have no shareholdings.