Just prior to Labor Day, AEI resident fellow Karlyn H. Bowman is releasing an updated, comprehensive collection of data on attitudes about work. The data comes from major pollsters. Among the highlights of this collection:

• Strong majorities say they are satisfied with their jobs. This is a long-established trend. In a July 2006 Gallup survey, 63 percent of employed adults said they would not be happier in a different job. Three in ten said they would be.
  
• The aspect of work that provides the greatest satisfaction is co-workers and colleagues. Workers are least satisfied with their pay. In a July Gallup poll, 73 percent of employed adults said that they would be happier if they made more money, but 26 percent said they would not. When asked "how much more money would it take to make you happy," the 73 percent--who had said that more money would make them happier--answered $45,934 (mean figure) and $17,000 (median figure). In 1955, 69 percent had said that more income would make them happier.
  
• American workers seem satisfied with their job security. According to an April 2006 Gallup survey, nearly 90 percent of employed adults said they were either "not too likely" or "not at all likely" to lose their jobs in the next year. Three percent thought they were "very likely" to lose their job. Americans do not appear overly concerned about outsourcing, either. In an August 2005 Gallup poll, 88 percent of employed adults said they were not worried about their companies moving their job overseas. Eighty-nine percent gave the same response in 2004 and 2003.
  
• And what about those gadgets that supposedly tie us to our jobs? According to an April/May Pew Research Center survey, 12 percent have a Palm Pilot, Blackberry, or similar product. In 2000, 5 percent did.

"The State of the American Worker" is one of a series of AEI studies on public opinion by Karlyn Bowman. The studies include trend data from most major pollsters in the United States and are updated regularly as new polls become available.

The full text of the study is available at: http://www.aei.org/publicopinion17

Questions about the study should be directed to AEI resident fellow Karlyn Bowman at 202.862.5910 or kbowman@aei.org. AEI research/staff assistant Adam Foster (202.862.5917 or afoster@aei.org) also contributed to the study. Please contact Ms. Bowman directly for interview requests.

For other media inquiries, please contact Veronique Rodman at vrodman@aei.org or 202.862.4870.