The State of American Jobs
Americans are more upbeat than downcast about how their standard of living has evolved – and will continue onward
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- The State of American Jobs
- How economic change is reshaping the workplace
- Employment growth is more rapid in occupations requiring higher social or analytical skills
- Over the past 25 years, employment growth has been most rapid in education and health services
- Adults with higher levels of education see a greater need for ongoing training
- Americans believe knowledge of computers, social dexterity, communications skills and access to training are keys to success for today’s workers
- Workers acquire key job skills in a variety of settings
- Wages are higher and increased more in occupations requiring relatively higher levels of social or analytic skills
- People believe outsourcing and imports are the biggest harms to U.S. workers; they are more divided about the impact of immigrants and automation
- Americans think individuals and public schools should have the most responsibility to make sure workers have the right skills
- Americans have mixed views about how well post-high school education prepares students for the workforce
- Economy tops other key issues in importance for presidential vote
- Employment is rising faster in occupations requiring higher levels of preparation
- Employment growth is more rapid in occupations requiring higher social or analytical skills
- Employment growth is strongest in education and health services, but manufacturing is shedding workers
- Fast-growing industries are more likely to employ people in occupations requiring higher levels of skills
- Wages are higher and increased more in occupations requiring relatively higher levels of social or analytic skills
- Women make up the majority of workers in occupations requiring higher social or analytical skills
- Half of workers in occupations requiring higher social or analytical skills are college educated
- Workers with higher levels of education are more likely to have a job-related certificate or license
- A rising share of the population ages 55 and older is working
- The typical earnings of employed women have increased
- Participation in employer-sponsored health insurance plans fell most among young adults and the lesser educated
- Share of workers who participate in a retirement plan or have access to one has fallen since 2000
- The share of workers with at least 5 years on the job has risen since 1996
- People are working more weeks and hours
- More workers are in alternative employment arrangements
- A smaller share of workers moonlight
- The self-employment rate is falling
- More than six-in-ten Americans say good jobs are hard to find where they live
- Feelings about mobility linked to job satisfaction
- Many think job conditions have become more challenging than a generation ago and that more stressful change is coming
- College-educated Americans are more likely to think job stresses have grown since a generation ago and to anticipate more strains in the future
- People believe outsourcing and imports are the biggest harms to U.S. workers; they are more divided about the impact of immigrants and automation
- Views about the impact of immigrants on U.S. workers have shifted significantly in the past decade
- Whites are more likely than others to think several forces have hurt U.S. workers
- Americans think individuals and public schools should have the most responsibility to make sure workers have the right skills
- Most say individuals are very responsible for job readiness; Democrats, more than Republicans, see a strong role for government, educational system
- Americans believe knowledge of computers, social dexterity, communications skills and access to training are keys to success for today’s workers
- Views on key skills for workers vary by education
- Job satisfaction varies by family income
- Full-time workers report being more satisfied than part-time workers with various aspects of life
- Private sector employees less likely to say their job gives them a sense of identity
- Youngest adults most likely to see their jobs as steppingstones to a career
- Most feel their jobs are secure from outsourcing and automation
- Wide gap in benefits offered to full- and part-time workers
- Men more likely than women to feel underemployed
- More educated workers see greater need for ongoing training and skills development
- Many workers have taken a class or gotten training in past year, often because employer required it
- Lower-income workers who seek additional training are motivated by wages, new job opportunities
- Limitations on time and resources can hold some workers back from getting additional skills training
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ABOUT PEW RESEARCH CENTER Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts.
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