"The message is loud and clear: Americans feel changes are needed in government's approach to jobs and labor in order to get people back to work quicker," said Tig Gilliam, CEO of Adecco Group North America. "What we have now isn't working well enough or quick enough and people feel it, especially the unemployed. That said, Americans aren't asking for a handout. Rather, they'd like to see some of the barriers to jobs lifted – better alignment of incentives and elimination of barriers – to free up hiring."
The survey also shows more Americans are focused on "bulking up" their skills and expertise in 2011; one-third (35 percent) of Americans indicated they plan pursue additional training and education in 2011, up from only 21 percent in 2010. However, Americans may be planning to parlay that increased education and skill into a new job as more than 30 percent indicated they plan to look for a new job in 2011. This is especially true of younger generations; 50 percent of 18-to-34 year olds plan to look for a new job in 2011, while one quarter (26 percent) of 35-54 year olds plan to do the same.
Additional survey findings include:
- Employees Plan to Ask for More Rewards in the Workplace in 2011: A renewed sense of confidence in the direction of the economy may be the catalyst that's inspiring workers to ask for more in the year ahead. While only 9 percent of Americans asked for a raise, bonus or promotion at work in 2010, this year that figure will more than double, with a fifth (20 percent) of people expecting to ask for these rewards in 2011.
- Men More Likely than Women to Look for a New Job, Expect a Raise in 2011: Compared to women, in 2011 men are more likely to look for a new job (38 percent compared to 21 percent), start a new job (34 percent compared to 22 percent) and expect a raise, bonus or promotion (41 percent compared to 29 percent).
- Younger Generations Want Obama to Create Retro "New Deal", Stimulus to Boost Jobs: When asked what advice they'd give President Obama to get more Americans back to work, more than half (51 percent) of 18-34 year olds would recommend he create a significant public works plan similar to the New Deal from the 1930s, whereas 41 percent of those aged 35+ do.
- A similar percentage (48 percent) of 18-34 year olds would also favor the creation of a new stimulus plan, compared to only 31 percent of those 35+ who favor stimulus as a solution.
- More Parents Plan to Pursue Education/Training for Career Advancement in 2011: For Americans with children, 46 percent plan to pursue additional education and training in the year ahead, compared to just over a quarter (29 percent) of those Americans without kids. These career boosting efforts might be paying off, too. In 2010, more than a quarter (27 percent) of parents received a raise or promotion or bonus at work, compared to 17 percent of those without children.
"The results of this survey confirm Americans want to see the government take stronger action to boost jobs creation," said Gilliam. "When you see results that indicate only 2 percent of Americans think the efforts underway are effective – that's a call to action for change."
