Workers Not Confident In U.S. Job Market

Survey Finds One-Third Of Americans Say They Don't Earn Enough To Make Ends Meet

(AP)  American workers' confidence in the job market is as low as it was during the 2001 recession, according to a survey released Thursday.

When asked whether this is a bad time to find a quality job, 65 percent said it was, matching the level of the 2001 recession, according to the survey by Rutgers University's John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development.

With unemployment at 5.7 percent, the highest level since 2004, and weekly unemployment claims hitting a six-year high earlier this month, workers are worried about everything from their weekly hours to their total pay.

As for retirement, many agree with Ray O'Connell, 56, an editor of engineering and computer science journals in New York City. "Won't happen," he said.

The survey found one third of workers said they often don't have enough money to make ends meet.

About one-third of respondents say the amount they owe on credit cards exceeds their retirement savings; another 3 percent say their credit card debt would cancel out their retirement account, according to the random survey of 1,000 people, 587 of whom are in the labor force.

Only half of respondents said they are working the number of hours they want to work and a third say there has been a change in the number of hours they work in the past three months. Eighteen percent were working more hours, and 14 percent worked fewer.

"This is a startling amount of change in a major area of people's lives over a very short period," according to a report on the survey called "The Anxious American Worker."

Nearly a third of respondents believe they are treated less as a person by their employer and more as "just someone who works" at their job.

Still, 91 percent of workers say they're "very" or "somewhat satisfied" with their jobs. A majority of American workers hold favorable attitudes toward their health and retirement benefits (62 percent), the number of hours they work (83 percent), and their annual income (74 percent).

However, only 55 percent of hourly workers are satisfied with their health and medical benefits, compared to 75 percent of salaried workers.

The survey also shows a wide disparity in parents' working hours: women with children at home work an average of 36 hours a week, while men with children at home work 48 hours per week.

Sixty-nine percent of respondents said they saved for retirement beyond their Social Security contributions, while 73 percent contribute to employer-sponsored retirement plans, and 67 percent report contributing to non-employer sponsored retirement plans. These figures are virtually unchanged from when the same questions were asked in 2005, and are down slightly from 2000.

Asked who is responsible for helping laid off workers, only 27 percent said workers were responsible for helping themselves, down from 52 percent in June 2003. Roughly one fifth said the government was responsible and another quarter said employers were responsible. The other options were combinations, such as workers and employers, workers and government, or all three equally were responsible.

The study had a sampling of error of plus or minus 4.2 percent, for workers in the labor force.

[mnbrant]

I got a notice from my credit card company two week ago that I still have 5000$ left on their card. I laughed. Where do these companies get all this money to throw at us dumheads? Are they secretly printing it on a boat somewhere just outside our borders?

[jmurrieta1]

The Repugs have sent so many of our good paying jobs overseas, tried to gut retirement plans, made bankruptcy unavailable except for Donald Trump, stood by as the medical profession has raised fees far beyond inflation, and raised the costs of everything from fuel to food, it''s not surprising that many are worried.

Not to worry good people--the Republicans just want you to know your place. You are peasants, and you exist to serve rich Republicans!

You PhD, now flipping burgers--now rich Republicans don''t have to pay so much for burgers! Used to own a business, now you mow lawns--rich Republicans can get their lawns mowed cheaper.

You get the picture, don''t you?

[midvale3]

Then shorten the length between the ends, stupid. Nobody told you to *** out children indiscriminately, buy toys, houses and cars you couldn''''t afford. Jesus, people, this is basic math.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by babykilller at 07:59 AM : Aug 28, 2008

Didn''t W tell the American people the best thing they could do for the US is to go out and spend money? Wasn''t that part of the "rebate" checks? I agree peole sometimes over extend themselves, but the issue is that job salaries are decreasing and prices are increasing, creating ecomnomic issues for more and more people.

[docpeter-2009]

Survey Finds One-Third Of Americans Say They Don''''t Earn Enough To Make Ends Meet

Then shorten the length between the ends, stupid. Nobody told you to *** out children indiscriminately, buy toys, houses and cars you couldn''''t afford. Jesus, people, this is basic math.

Posted by babykilller at 07:59 AM : Aug 28, 2008
__________________
Not always as possible as you might think. There are some of us that work two jobs, one minimum wage, that just had their hours cut. While I went all cash 5 years ago and got rid of ALL credit cards; when I lost my last good paying job 3 years ago and cannot find good employment no matter how many apps I turn in, then I have trouble(s). I have driven the same vehicle for 11 years and it was paid in full in 1999. I cannot shorten the month, I still have bills to pay like water, electric, rent, gas to go to/from work (which I can barely afford to keep my job[s]).

I had a good chance for a decent paying job, but then they ran a credit check, wanna guess what happened then?

Your solution sounds more like GOP garbage than anything else. Bring the jobe back from India, Philipines, Pakistan, etc and back to the good ''ol USA and put Americans back to work. Cut the pay for the CEOs and use the extra $$ from their salaries to fund more employment, benefits, retirement, etc. This is where I see that the GOP has alolowed corporate America to rape our citizens.

[eclecticman1]

Surveys are finding that more and more people are using their credit cards to buy necessities like ever increasing costly food and gasoline. While prices go up, the average wages have stagnated or gone down over the Bush tenure. Enough is enough. Vote Democrat so they can get on your side.

[jmurrieta1]

John McClone thinks that all people about to retire have paid-for houses (4 or 5 at least), fat pension plans, and preferably a rich relative or two to sponge off of.

That''s how he made it, isn''t it?

[pirmin3]

I have read that there is a migration of Americans to India to work in call centers. A lot of Indians don''t have the language skills.

[tomanyt]

gop_forever...Easier said then done.

[docpeter-2009]

Trouble meeting your ends? Get a second job! Problem solved.

Posted by gop_forever at 08:51 AM : Aug 28, 2008
__________________
I got a second job, even had 3 jobs for a while, but alas I have to sleep more than 4 hours a day.

So much compassion form you GOP_forever. Your true Christian Values, the ones you supposedly have, are shining through as usual. Typical GOP attitude.

Now bring the jobs back to America and quit raping the little guy.

[ajaxtheleast]

"Workers say that they don''t earn enough
to make ends meet."

Certainly ALL workers don''t say this !!!

CBS should preface this by stating that

a few, maybe even "VERY FEW", workers

complain of a lack of being able to afford

patronizing a house of ill-repute !!???

[mawskrat]

geeeees...talk to my neighbor, she is working 12 hours a day 7 days a week.lol

[mawskrat]

Obama''s cure....take money away from those that produce and give it to those that don''t

[swwils]

Well if McCain wins office,we will really be hit.He believes that middle class average annual wages are around $5 million.Haa! What has he been smoking?I really about lost it when I read that.He is so out of tune with society that if he wins ,it will take another 8 yrs before our country begins to handle our economy.

[harp1963]

After 20 of the last 28 years having Greedapublican Presidents, if you don''t realize who has put the 2 x 4 up your rear end by now, just keep voting Republican, maybe they''ll privitize your social security and make it all better.

[thickredhair]

geeeees...talk to my neighbor, she is working 12 hours a day 7 days a week.lol

Posted by mawskrat at 09:26 AM : Aug 28, 2008

and let me guess she is probably still struggling to make ends meet and despite the fact that she may want to cut back and take just a little time for herself, if she lets off the smallest amount she knows her job is gone to one of the 50 people in the job application line behind her that have no problem working those hours at less pay just to have a job at all

[sly_64]

If you are good at what you do, you won''t have a problem getting a job.

[jtdev1]

how many surveyed are in their financial position because of their own personal choices in life?


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by jamesm12341







It''s not all personal choice in play here... A lot has to do with the drastic changes that happened in the past couple of years. See, when someone agrees to get something (like buying a car) they do their calculations and plan for the cost of it, but then the price of oil goes up not 10%, or even 20% but something like 400%, causing all the prices to go up double digit increases and now your in trouble.

Here you''ve planned on paying for something and now all the rules to the game have changed.

You can also say you shouldn''t buy a car unless you can pay cash, but when some of the cheapest cars are over 15K, you don''t really have a choice in paying cash.

It''s easy to say it''s personal choices, but it''s really not all about personal choices.

[mawskrat]

swills..."Well if McCain wins office,we will really be hit.He believes that middle class average annual wages are around $5 million.Haa! What has he been smoking?I really about lost it when I read that.He is so out of tune with society that if he wins ,it will take another 8 yrs before our country begins to handle our economy"

just when did he say 5 mil was an average wage.lol oh don''t let facts get in the way

[sly_64]

gop_forever :

I''ve been in the work world for 25yrs. I am a manager, and I surround myself with only very good technical people. I also instituted work-at-home policies .

Who is th real moron here ?

[mawskrat]

thickredhair.....no my neighbor is doing rather well and saving money.lol she lives within her means wich more people should try

[harp1963]

Like I said, if you don''t realize who put the 2 x 4 up America''s rear end, keep voting for the guys who wanted to make tax cuts for the billionaires in the top 1% a constitutional amendment, making the cuts permenant. Here is a story about one of the most respected Republicans in the history of the Republican Party who disagreed with them:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/01/09/60minutes/main592330.shtml

[sly_64]

There is so much training available out there, even for free. I know for unemployed people there is free computer training in certain areas. They''d rather train you, get you a job and get you off unemployment. I know someone who actually performed this training.

[harp1963]

Not a thing. It''s just some interesting information for Americans who have watched a Republican Congress, Senate, and President for 6 long years invest more money in an Iraqi war that had nothing to do with 9/11. And a whole truck load of our taxpayer money has been channeled to Bechtel and Haliburton through unbid government contract all while America desperately needs to use the money that comes out of our paychecks every week to TRAIN AMERICANS IN AMERICA so OUR future generations IN AMERICA will be secure. This whole Iraqi mafia movie channelling of money to powerful friends has securely screwed up the ability of AMERICA to compete. That''s what it has to do with qualifications of jobs.

[sly_64]

gop_forever : You are a true idiot.

[thickredhair]

I know someone who actually performed this training.

Posted by sly_64 at 10:02 AM : Aug 28, 2008

And they are still looking for a job

[mawskrat]

when Obama went to san fran''s billionairs row for a fund raiser he was meeting the wage slave servents of those billionairs.lol

[sly_64]

thickredhair:

That was their job, to perform the training. Then they actually help place people in jobs.

[sly_64]

Well, if you check out this site, you can see what I mean:
http://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/wnjpin/wnjpin_index.html

[sly_64]

gop_forever : they are not managers, you must have had a bad experience. Or you are not confident in your position.

[sly_64]

If you are going to survive, you must constantly update your skills and get better at whatever you do.

[grizzster]

Just heard a radio spot in the car this morning: "Are you tired of barely making it in a humdrum, dead-end job that''s burning you out? These days, 50-80-100,000 a year will guarantee you one thing...survival! So put your sales skills to work at blah-blah-blah..."

I *** near drove off the road. Who makes up this schmidt? Who makes that kind of money? Where did I go wrong?

I''ll tell you where...I''m guilty of too many birthdays (over 60 of ''em) and I live in NE Ohio, where the economy is like it''s 1938...if you''re a white, male, white-collar boomer, you''ll be lucky to have anyone seriously about a job at all, after they''ve interviewed 300 other folks for that job paying 10 bucks an hour and no bennies. Part time.
Can you say call center? keep smilin'' while you''re dialin''.

Shoot me now.

[jimfinster]

I''''ll tell you where...I''''m guilty of too many birthdays (over 60 of ''''em) and I live in NE Ohio, where the economy is like it''''s 1938...if you''''re a white, male, white-collar boomer, you''''ll be lucky to have anyone seriously about a job at all, after they''''ve interviewed 300 other folks for that job paying 10 bucks an hour and no bennies. Part time.
Can you say call center? keep smilin'''' while you''''re dialin''''.

Shoot me now.

Posted by Grizzster



Work for yourself. Find a niche and just do it.

[grizzster]

I''m guilty of too many birthdays (over 60 of ''''em) and I live in NE Ohio, where the economy is like it''s 1938...if you''''re a white, male, white-collar boomer, you''''ll be lucky to have anyone talk to you seriously about a job at all, and only after they''''ve interviewed 300 other folks for that job. A McJob paying 10 bucks an hour and no bennies, part time.

Can you say call center? Keep smilin'' while you''''re dialin''.

Please shoot me now.

[babooph]

Calm down -the Mexicans are leaving,there will be grass to cut in the gated communities,& CEO bags to carry,but only for the lucky ones.

[anitaymoore]

I''m 40, and I work in the airline industry...in order to KEEP my decent paying job with decent benefits (I''m fortunate, I know) I''ve had to constantly update my skills. I don''t just mean occasionally either, I have to stay on the cutting edge, those who don''t in this industry (and I''m not talking the guys/gals in the unions who actually work on the planes)...go by the wayside quickly, because there is ALWAYS someone who wants to take your place.

It''s so sad how competitive the job market has become today, highly skilled people have to fight to keep a job because they can easily be replaced by someone who NEEDS a job and would most likely work for less...and employers KNOW IT.

[jamesetling]

No question most people''s standard of living is gradually decreasing. And most people don''t want to accept that it won''t be going back to what it may have been 10 years ago. Two suggestions for young people who are not sure how to proceed. First, don''t have any kids at all. Get yourself fixed. Second, lower your expectations about retirement. Nothing wrong with planning to have a simple home paid off by retirement age. OK to live a simple life there. Learn how to grow your own veggies, so you won''t starve. All this stuff about having two homes and travelling around as a retiree. Forget it.

[credibility2]

The job market in the Chicago-area is hideous. Unemployment is over 7.5%. It doesn''t matter if you have experience or education. Businesses are sitting on resumes for well over a month. Many are skittish about doing any hiring because of the upcoming election. Having one''s own business isn''t the answer either, because it costs money to promote it and markets to market it to, and if those markets are suffering, like most are, the prospects of selling them one''s goods or services is remote. I''d consider fast food or even retail, but have enough physical problems to limit doing this type of work, and not enough physical problems to be considered disabled. The temp market is also hurting and companies aren''t hiring temps because of the cost factor.

[starleo146]

Just heard a radio spot in the car this morning: "Are you tired of barely making it in a humdrum, dead-end job that''''s burning you out? These days, 50-80-100,000 a year will guarantee you one thing...survival! So put your sales skills to work at blah-blah-blah..."

I *** near drove off the road. Who makes up this schmidt? Who makes that kind of money? Where did I go wrong?

I''''ll tell you where...I''''m guilty of too many birthdays (over 60 of ''''em) and I live in NE Ohio, where the economy is like it''''s 1938...if you''''re a white, male, white-collar boomer, you''''ll be lucky to have anyone seriously about a job at all, after they''''ve interviewed 300 other folks for that job paying 10 bucks an hour and no bennies. Part time.
Can you say call center? keep smilin'''' while you''''re dialin''''.

Shoot me now.

Posted by Grizzster at 10:53 AM : Aug 28, 200

Your reward for voting for Bush in 2004. It was a design by them to force out the unions, lower the wage, to an all time low, and send more jobs overseas. He did it in Michigan, Pennsylvania, I would like to know what percentage of job loss is in Texas, I bet that state has been covered to survive for years

[slim1h2o]

Listen up Teenagers, if there is any reading these posts.



Do yourself a favor,do not, repeat, do not work for anyone but yourself.

I don''t care what it is, weather it''s working on computers, mowing lawns, building furnature in your parents garage, I don''t care what it is. Just as long it''s a viable trade, or service. If you follow my advice, you will be rewarded. Yes it will take some extra work, and yes, you might not make as much money in the begining, (later you will make much more than your peers) but at the end, you''ll be much more happier.

Spoken from a man that knows.

[marcpcbs]

"Workers Not Confident In U.S. Job Market"


Lets see now,

The price of everything just doubled, that%u2019s the same as cutting most peoples incomes in half, and massive layoffs all across the country.

Do you think these things could be causing a drop in the publics confidense?

[slim1h2o]

I would like to know what percentage of job loss is in Texas, I bet that state has been covered to survive for years

Posted by starleo14672 at 11:33 AM : Aug 28, 2008

Well seems that Texas is heavily into oil, (we know how Bush likes his oil), you know that Texas is well taken care of.

[luvny-2009]

Can''t blame me I didn''t vote for that ***! Too bad it didn''t trickle down to just those that voted for him but most were the rich and they still are!

[luvny-2009]

Unemployment rate for Texas
listed as #18 and #1 being the least. TEXAS 4.4% hummm under the 5.7% average, interesting!

[sly_64]

It''s easy, if you''re lazy, you won''t keep your job or get a job.

[bretster7]

Funny how there is no mention on cBS or any of the por Obama MSM outlets of the 3.3% 2nd Q growth....gee, I wonder why? Perhaps it does not fit the ajenda of the Dems. There is no recession, never was. It is all a perception planted by the media to get you little liberalsheeple all in an uproar, so you would have something to rally behind.
Oil is down, the surge that all the "invest in defeat" libs said would fail, has and is working...
Remember the democrat motto "Whats good for America is bad for the party comrade"

Baaaa,baaaaa.

[screan_name]

Don''t worry America Bush has said he''s going to create 500 thousand new jobs before he leaves office.


Unfortunately their all in the Iraqi military and you get to pay their salaries with your taxes.


Thanks for voting Republican and enjoy your time off.



lol!

[screan_name]

Don''t worry America. The trickle in the Bush/McCain trickle down economic plan is going reach you any minute now.

If, when the trickle finally reaches you, it looks and smells like urine, that''s because it is.

On the bright side McCain has seven mansions.

Thanks for voting Republican.




lol!

[screan_name]

History will treat GWB well after all we have a free and democratic Iraq.. Even though Harry Reid Democratic leader said we couldn''''t win and that the surge was a failure before it even started...


Posted by Gilprice at 12:05 PM : Aug 28, 2008
+ report abuse




Democracy? Bush turned a secular state into an Islamic state run by Sharia law.

Brilliant.


lol!

[ddaryl1]

as long as there is a epublican in the white house there is less that a 0% chance of worker confidence.

The republicans haved done nothing to help the ocuntry, and they only pander to the welathy.

The 1st thing Bush did was give corps and the welathy tax breaks, that were supposed to help the economy and ccreate scores of new high paying jobs..

Where are those jobs.. if anything things have gotten worse in the last 8 years.


trickle down economics doesn''t not and will never work. You must get the money down low so all of the workers have it to spend, and then it all trickles back up to the top.

we cannot afford 4 more years of being screwed by republicans... that is fact

[missingamerica]

the 3.3% 2nd Q growth....gee, I wonder why? Perhaps it does not fit the ajenda of the Dems. There is no recession, never was. It is all a perception planted by the media to get you little liberalsheeple all in an uproar, so you would have something to rally behind.

Baaaa,baaaaa. [sic - apparently the cry of a chickenhawk]

Posted by bretster7 at 12:03 PM : Aug 28, 2008

Maybe because that 3.3% figure is published by the Commerce Department, which is firmly controlled by an Administration famous for changing and censoring data to ensure that it is "on-message" and has also been know to lie outright (WMDs, "no political bias in DOJ", etc. etc. ad nauseum)?

And those numbers CONVENIENTLY come out just when a Republican Presidential candidate must face the burden of being the apologist for the malfeasance of this Administration?

Ya think that is why nobody is too thrilled about those "numbers"?