Satisfaction with available
jobs and careers today and for the next generation is down.
Satisfaction with class
size is also unchanged. Sixty-nine percent of those expressing an
opinion were satisfied in 2002, compared to 66% who are satisfied in
2003.
Half of respondents say the
economy has affected their employers for the worse and one third of
respondents think it will get worse over the next year.
Respondents believe that
job opportunities are poor for workers regardless of age or expertise.
Half of respondents think that their own job opportunities are fair or
poor.
Summary
The most serious economic problems for respondents in this Quality of
Life survey come in the form of jobs. Employees are less satisfied with
their incomes today than they were a year ago – a drop from 69% in 2002
to 58% in 2003. Moreover, job opportunities are scarce for everyone.
Just one person in three (35%) is satisfied with the availability of
good-paying jobs in his or her community, and 73% think that existing
jobs either don’t pay enough or require skills that most people don’t
have. Three out of four say that job opportunities for young high school
graduates are fair or poor and 64% say opportunities for young college
graduates are fair or poor.
