2/18: Employees Concerned About Future Job Loss

26% of employed American residents report they are concerned about losing their job in the next year.

©istockphoto.com/Imagine Golf

©istockphoto.com/Imagine Golf

This includes 11% who say they are very concerned and 15% who are concerned.  On the other hand, 34% are not very concerned, and 40% are not concerned at all.

Table: Concern About Job Loss

Satisfied Workforce?

88% of American workers say they are either very satisfied or satisfied with their current job.  Included here are 45% who are very satisfied and 43% who are satisfied.  8% report they are not very satisfied, and 4% are not satisfied at all with their occupation.

Women have a higher degree of fulfillment in the workplace than do men.  A majority of women — 51% — are very satisfied in their current jobs while 39% of men say the same.

Interestingly, employees making less are slightly more satisfied in their current positions than are those earning more.  48% of those with an annual salary of less than $50,000 are very satisfied in their jobs compared with 42% making $50,000 or more.

Table: Job Satisfaction

More Than One-fifth to Look for New Job

Despite satisfaction, 22% of employed residents nationwide say it is either very likely or likely that they will look for a new job when the economy improves.  This includes 13% who think this scenario is very likely, and 9% who believe it is likely.

Younger Americans and men are heading for the door sooner.  30% of those under 45 say they will look for a new job when the economy is on an upswing.  This compares with 14% of those 45 and older who say they will start searching the want ads at that time.

More men than women are also looking for an exit strategy.  30% of men say they will plan to make change in their careers while 15% of women say the same.

Not surprisingly, employed Americans who are satisfied with their jobs are less likely to look for a new position when the economy improves.

Table: Likelihood of Looking for a New Job

Marist Poll Methodolgy