Jobs/Employment

37% See Increased Government Hiring As Good for Economy, 41% Say Bad

Americans are a bit more evenly divided when it comes to whether the economy benefits from the government hiring more unemployed people. But nearly a third still thinks the government should do nothing for the long-term unemployed.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that 37% of Americans think it would be good for the U.S. economy if the government hires more people, up just one point from October but the highest result found in over a year.

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43% Say 99 Weeks of Benefits Increase The Unemployment Problem

Congress is again debating whether to extend the funding that makes possible up to 99 weeks of state and federal unemployment benefits, even as Americans continue to express skepticism about benefits that last that long.

Thirty-nine percent (39%) of American Adults believe 99 weeks is too long a period to provide unemployment benefits, while 17% say it’s too short a time. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just one-in-three Americans (33%) think the 99 week-period is about right.

82% Know Someone Out of Work and Looking For A Job

Though the national unemployment rate fell slightly in November, more Americans than ever know someone who is out of work and looking for a job. The number who expect unemployment to be lower a year from now remains at its all-time low.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that 82% know someone who is out of work and looking for a job.

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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on December 1-2, 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

36% of Workers Expect To Make More Money Next Year

A plurality of American workers believes they’ll earn about the same amount of money a year from today, and most continue to classify themselves as middle class.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Employed Adults shows that 36% say they’ll be earning more money a year from today, while 12% think they’ll be earning less. Forty-five percent (45%) expect to be earning about the same amount of money a year from now. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

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The survey of 563 Employed Adults was conducted on November 4-5, 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

New Low: 35% of Workers Plan on Staying At Current Company for More Than Five Years

Though a plurality of American workers still believes staying at their current company offers the best opportunity for career advancement, fewer plan on staying at that company for the long term.

32% Say Government Should Do Nothing for the Long-Term Unemployed

Americans continue to have mixed feelings about how the government should respond to the long-term unemployed. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults finds that 32% feel the government should do nothing at all, while 25% think it should pay for their retraining. Ten percent (10%) say the government should extend unemployment benefits indefinitely, and 21% think the government should hire those long out of work, down from June's high-to-date of 24%.

36% Expect More Unemployment One Year From Today, 21% Expect Less

As 2011 rolls along, Americans have become far more pessimistic about the employment outlook.

48% See No Further Need for Labor Unions, 30% Disagree

Half of American Adults (48%) think labor unions have outlasted their usefulness, but there’s a sharp difference of opinion between Republicans and Democrats on the question.

Only 10% Now Say They Are the Working Poor

The number of working Americans who classify themselves as poor has fallen to its lowest level in more than two years, while the number of middle class workers ties the all-time high.

38% See Better Job In Their Future

A plurality of American workers is still confident their next job will be better than their current one, but most aren’t searching for other work.

62% Prefer Minimum Wage States Jobs As An Alternative To Welfare

A majority of voters nationwide like the idea of state governments offering jobs instead of welfare payments to those seeking work.

64% Say Primary Objective of Businesses: Create Jobs

Most Americans think businesses should focus on the greater good of their fellow citizens, not just those on the inside.

Most Americans Still Think Those in Private Sector Work Harder, Earn Less Than Government Employees

Americans still overwhelmingly believe that those employed in the private sector work harder than government workers but receive less compensation and have less job security.

Voters Favor Tax Cuts Over Government Job Programs

When it comes to job creation and improving the overall economy, voters think tax cuts will work better than government solutions.

24% Say Government Should Hire Long-Term Unemployed

The number of Americans who believe the federal government should assume financial responsibility for the long-term unemployed has increased throughout 2011. Most, however, still reject that approach.

50% Say U.S. Job Market Worse Now Than A Year Ago

Overall confidence in the U.S. job market is at its lowest level in two years.

50% Favor Jobs Tax Credits for Hiring Young Veterans

Faced with continuing high unemployment, voters feel strongly that the government needs to launch a job-creating program, but they still have far more faith in business leaders to create new jobs. They give mixed reviews to President Obama’s new plan to create jobs for military veterans.

Only 18% Favor Law Prohibiting Employers From Considering Criminal Background When Hiring

San Francisco is considering a new law that would prohibit employers from inquiring about an individual’s criminal history before hiring them. Hawaii, New York, Massachusetts and Philadelphia already have similar laws. But just 18% of American Adults favor a law that would prohibit employers from considering an applicant’s criminal record when making a hiring decision.

Congress Still Viewed Least Favorably On List of Professions

While the ongoing debt ceiling debate hasn’t helped matters, Americans still list being a member of Congress as the least favorable on a list of nine professions.

Voters Skeptical About Fairness of Hiring Practices in Business World

Voters nationwide aren’t exactly confident that most employers in the business world are hiring the best candidates.