Most Favor $10.50 Minimum Wage
A majority of Americans believe the minimum wage – currently $7.25 an hour – should be raised to at least $10.50, but are divided over whether a minimum wage increase would help the economy.
Jobs/Employment
Most Recent Releases
April 9, 2024
March 20, 2024
Most Americans Still Say Robots Can’t Do Their Jobs
Controversies about artificial intelligence (AI) keep making headlines, but fewer than one-in-five Americans think their job could be done by a robot.
May 17, 2023
Most Americans Still See Economic Opportunities
Almost anyone can get a job, according to an overwhelming majority of Americans, who believe that hard work is still the best way for people to escape poverty.
August 11, 2022
More Workers Expect Higher Wages
Fewer than one-in-five workers think they could advance their careers by leaving their current jobs, and most expect a raise within a year.
August 5, 2022
Views on Job Market Turn Pessimistic Again
Negative opinions about the job market have increased since spring and, by a 12-point margin, more Americans expect unemployment to increase in the next year.
June 24, 2022
Only 14% Think a Robot Could Do Their Job
Even though a majority of Americans can imagine a future where most jobs are done by robots, few believe their own job could be one of those.
June 20, 2022
Just 29% Think Workforce Diversity Efforts Improve Race Relations
Most Americans support efforts to increase diversity in the workforce, but believe this is likely to lead to racial and gender quotas, and most don’t think diversity efforts are improving race relations.
June 8, 2022
Most Think Teens Won’t Have Trouble Finding Jobs This Summer
Americans continue to believe it’s good for young people to work during the summer, and most believe it won’t be hard for teens to find jobs.
June 2, 2022
Do Government Workers Really Need a Raise?
Congress is considering a huge pay increase for federal employees, but a plurality of Americans think government workers are already better off than employees in the private sector.
May 6, 2022
Americans Have Mixed Views About Job Market
Pessimism about the current employment situation has faded since last year, even as concerns for the future of the job market remain high.
April 22, 2022
More Pay? Most U.S. Workers Still Don’t Expect It
While most Americans remain confident about their ability to find a job and get ahead in the current economy, workers are less likely to expect a raise.
February 23, 2022
Most Americans Favor Raising Minimum Wage
More than four out of five Americans believe the minimum wage – currently $7.25 an hour – should be raised to at least $9.50, but fewer than half believe a minimum wage increase would help the economy.
January 26, 2022
Most Workers Don’t Expect Wage Increases
American workers are now less optimistic they’ll get a raise soon, but most plan to hold on to the job they’ve got.
November 19, 2021
Americans Take More Negative View of Job Market
Public perception of the job market has shifted toward pessimism, and more Americans now expect the employment picture to get worse than better.
September 9, 2021
Most Americans Believe Government Employees Work Less
President Joe Biden has promised a pay increase for federal employees, but most Americans think government workers already have it made.
July 23, 2021
Views Toward Job Market Improving
As the economy recovers from more than a year of COVID-19 pandemic, Americans have become somewhat more optimistic about the job market in recent months.
June 11, 2021
Americans Say Summer Jobs Important for Teens
Most Americans believe it’s important for young people to work during the summer, and don’t think it will be very difficult for teens to find jobs in the current economy.
May 25, 2021
Only 27% Think High School Graduates Have Necessary Job Skills
As millions of high school seniors prepare to receive their diplomas, most Americans doubt this year’s graduates are ready to enter the workforce or to succeed in college.
May 24, 2021
Americans See Tough Job Market for College Grads
In an economy still recovering from effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, most Americans believe this year’s class of college graduates face a tough job market, and many doubt graduates have the skills they need.
May 19, 2021
Jobs: Are Robots Taking Over?
A majority of Americans think it’s likely that robots and computers will do most jobs in the future, but fewer than one-in-seven believe their own job could be done by a robot.
