“Quality” jobs — those that allow employees to meet basic financial needs, feel safe and respected, expand their skills, have a voice in decisions affecting them and maintain some control over their work — are more prevalent in some U.S. regions than others, according to the American Job Quality Study.
Led by Gallup, Jobs for the Future, the Families & Workers Fund and the W.E. Upjohn Institute, the study is described as the first nationally representative survey to measure workers’ experience and assess U.S. job quality. It surveyed 18,429 U.S. adults between Jan. 13 and Feb. 25. Respondents were ages 18-75 and had worked for pay in the seven days prior to taking the survey.
Overall, 40% of U.S. employees said they work in a quality job.
The West had the highest percentage of workers in quality jobs at 44%, followed by the Northeast (39%), South (38%) and Midwest (36%).
Healthcare workers were among survey respondents. Nearly 30% of employees across industries said they are struggling financially — either “just getting by” or finding it difficult to do so. Among healthcare and medical field workers, 22% said they are “just getting by” and 8% difficulty meeting financial needs.
