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A new study by AEI Resident Fellow Karlyn H. Bowman and Research Assistant Bryan O'Keefe
Labor Day is a traditional time to assess the state of the American worker. Using the hundreds of poll questions that have been asked about how workers view their jobs since the polling business got its start in the 1930s, AEI is releasing today a collection of historic and contemporary polls on workers and their jobs.
The document can be found at:
Bowman, who specializes in public opinion polls, is available for interviews at 202.862.5910 or KBowman@aei.org (research asst: 202.862.5917)
Among the key findings:
- Work satisfaction is high. Only small proportions (usually less than 10 percent) tell pollsters they are very dissatisfied with their jobs. There has been little change in these responses over the past quarter century. (Gallup/Harris/Roper/National Opinion Research Center)
- Solid majorities of workers tell pollsters they would take the same job again "without hesitation." (Univ. of Michigan/Harris)
- Huge majorities (85 percent/Gallup, 2004) say they have a strong sense of loyalty to the company they work for. This has changed little in the last decade. Smaller, but still robust majorities say the company they work for has a strong sense of loyalty to them (67 percent).
- As for the work load, most workers tell the pollsters they are satisfied. In Gallup's latest question, 86 percent of workers are satisfied with the amount of work required of them and 19 percent are dissatisfied. As for vacation time, 79 percent are satisfied with the amount they have, and 17 percent dissatisfied (2004).
- Stress is over-stressed. Twenty-seven percent of workers are completely satisfied with "the amount of on the job stress," and 37 percent are somewhat satisfied (2004).
- Workers are happiest with their coworkers. (Gallup/Roper/NBC,WSJ) They are least happy with the amount of money they earn.
- As for today's economy, in most polls, around 20 percent of workers fear being laid off "in the near future." Around 80 percent do not. More than 80 percent of workers are not worried that their hours or, separately, wages, will be cut (Gallup, 2004). About 90 percent are not worried that their company will move jobs overseas (Gallup, 2004).
- A third say it's a good time to find a quality job, and 63 percent a bad time (Gallup, 2004). Twenty-six percent say their employer has laid off someone in the past six months.
- Today, a quarter of workers say their job "never" requires them to be in an office; 40 percent say it "always" does.
"The State of the American Worker" is one of a series of AEI studies on public opinion which are updated regularly as new polls become available. The studies include trend data from most major pollsters in the United States and are accessible through:
For other media inquiries, please contact Veronique Rodman at VRodman@aei.org or 202.862.4871.