The State of American Jobs
Americans have mixed views about how well post-high school education prepares students for the workforce
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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
- 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
- Americans are more upbeat than downcast about how their standard of living has evolved – and will continue onward
- 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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