2010-09-01-皮尤-Most_Re-employed_Workers_Say_They_re_Overqualified_for_Their_New_Job_10页_276kb

Summary of Pew Research Center Report on Re-employed Workers

Background

The report, based on a 2010 survey by the Pew Research Center's Social and Demographic Trends Project, examines workers re-employed after unemployment during the Great Recession (starting December 2007). Approximately 26% of U.S. adults (about 36 million) experienced at least one spell of unemployment. The study surveyed 2,967 adults, including 376 re-employed workers.

Key Findings

• Job Satisfaction and Identity: Re-employed workers are less satisfied with their jobs (78%) compared to those who did not experience unemployment (89%), a 11-point difference. Many feel their jobs are "just what they do for a living" rather than providing a sense of identity.
• Overqualification: About 54% of re-employed workers feel overqualified for their current roles, compared to 36% of other workers. This was more common among those who moved to part-time positions during the recession.
• Financial Impact: Over half (53%) report their financial situation is worse, and 35% had to alter their lifestyles due to the economy. Re-employed workers were less likely to see improvements in pay or benefits.
• Job Comparisons: New jobs are often viewed as better (43%) than old ones, but pay increases occurred in only 38% of cases, and welfare improvements in 26%. Comparisons differ by unemployment duration: shorter unemployment leads to higher satisfaction, while longer unemployment often results in dissatisfaction.
• Career Changes: Six in ten considered changing careers, 39-45% moved or planned relocation, and 33-44% pursued retraining or education. Younger workers and men were more likely to seek major changes.
• Duration Effects: Those unemployed for less than six months were more likely to find better jobs (53% better) than those unemployed longer (30% better for those 6+ months).
• Demographic Differences: Re-employed workers show few demographic distinctions overall, but age and gender play roles in motivation for changes, e.g., 18-29 year-olds were highly active in career shifts.
• Survey Methodology: Data from telephone interviews with a nationally representative sample, with a 95% confidence margin of error.

This analysis highlights that re-employed workers faced challenges despite regaining employment, indicating lingering effects of unemployment on job satisfaction and quality of life.