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Today's Labor Force - Opinions Of American Workers


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Job Satisfaction

According to an August 2005 Gallup Poll of adults who were employed full- or part-time, 42% were completely satisfied with their current job, 44% were somewhat satisfied, and 11% were somewhat dissatisfied. Only 3% expressed complete dissatisfaction with their job. The percent of American workers reporting that they are "completely satisfied" with their jobs has increased over the past two decades. In a survey taken in July 1989, 28% said they were completely satisfied, while 61% were somewhat satisfied, 8% were somewhat dissatisfied, and 3% were completely dissatisfied. The highest level of worker satisfaction reported by Gallup in Work and Workplace was recorded in August 2004, when a full 50% of those surveyed expressed complete satisfaction with their jobs. At that time 39% were somewhat satisfied, 7% were somewhat dissatisfied, and 4% were completely dissatisfied.

Job Security

In August 2005 more than eight of ten respondents were not worried about the possibilities of being laid off (84%), working reduced hours (87%), or having jobs moved offshore (88%), and 71% reported that their own employer had not laid off any workers during the previous six months. When asked in an April 2005 survey if they personally knew anyone who had lost their job within the last six months because their employer moved that job to another country, 77% said they did not know anyone in that situation, while 22% did. At that time, 45% of people polled said that they did not know anyone who had been laid off within the past six months, though 55% of people did know someone who had recently lost their job. These percentages were down somewhat from a similar poll taken in April 2003, when 63% of people surveyed did know someone who had been laid off in the TABLE 1.18 Employed persons by demographic characteristics, 2004–05past six months, and 37% said they did not know anyone in that situation.

TABLE 1.18
Employed persons by demographic characteristics, 2004–05
[Percent distributon]
Occupation, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity Total Men Women
2004 2005 2004 2005 2004 2005
Total
    Total, 16 years and over (thousands) 139,252 141,730 74,524 75,973 64,728 65,757
    Percent 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
Management, professional, and related occupations 34.9 34.7 32.4 32.0 37.7 37.9
    Management, business, and financial operations occupations 14.5 14.4 15.7 15.5 13.2 13.2
    Professional and related occupations 20.3 20.3 16.7 16.6 24.5 24.6
Service occupations 16.3 16.3 13.2 13.0 19.9 20.2
Sales and office occupations 25.5 25.4 17.2 17.4 35.0 34.6
    Sales and related occupations 11.5 11.6 10.9 11.0 12.2 12.3
    Office and administrative support occupations 14.0 13.8 6.3 6.4 22.8 22.4
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations 10.5 10.8 18.7 19.3 1.0 1.1
    Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations .7 .7 1.1 1.0 .3 .3
    Construction and extraction occupations 6.1 6.5 11.1 11.7 .3 .4
    Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations 3.6 3.7 6.5 6.6 .4 .3
Production, transportation, and material moving occupations 12.9 12.7 18.6 18.3 6.4 6.3
    Production occupations 6.8 6.6 8.8 8.6 4.4 4.3
    Transportation and material moving occupations 6.1 6.1 9.7 9.7 1.9 2.0
White
    Total, 16 years and over (thousands) 115,239 116,949 62,712 63,763 52,527 53,186
    Percent 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
Management, Professional, and related occupations 35.6 35.5 33.1 32.7 38.6 38.8
    Management, business, and financial operations occupations 15.3 15.1 16.6 16.3 13.6 13.6
    Professional and related occupations 20.3 20.4 16.5 16.3 25.0 25.2
Service occupations 15.2 15.2 12.3 12.1 18.8 19.0
Sales and office occupations 25.5 25.4 17.1 17.2 35.6 35.1
    Sales and related occupations 11.8 11.9 11.2 11.3 12.4 12.5
    Office and administrative support occupations 13.7 13.5 5.8 5.9 23.2 22.6
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations 11.2 11.6 19.7 20.4 1.0 1.1
    Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations .8 .8 1.1 1.1 .3 .4
    Construction and extraction occupations 6.6 7.0 11.9 12.4 .4 .4
    Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations 3.8 3.9 6.7 6.9 .3 .3
Production, transportation, and material moving occupations 12.4 12.3 17.9 17.7 6.0 5.9
    Production occupations 6.6 6.4 8.7 8.4 4.1 4.0
    Transportation and material moving occupations 5.9 5.9 9.2 9.3 1.9 1.9
Black or African American
    Total, 16 years and over (thousands) 14,909 15,313 6,912 7,155 7,997 8,158
    Percent 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
Management, professional, and related occupations 26.5 26.0 21.7 21.0 30.6 30.4
    Management, business, and financial operations occupations 9.4 9.5 8.9 8.9 9.9 10.0
    Professional and related occupations 17.0 16.5 12.8 12.1 20.7 20.4
Service occupations 23.8 23.9 20.0 20.0 27.0 27.3
Sales and office occupations 26.3 26.3 18.2 18.3 33.3 33.4
    Sales and related occupations 9.6 9.8 8.4 8.5 10.6 11.0
    Office and administrative support occupations 16.7 16.5 9.8 9.8 22.7 22.4
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations 6.8 7.1 13.6 14.2 .9 .9
    Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations .4 .3 .6 .5 .1 .2
    Construction and extraction occupations 3.8 4.2 7.9 8.6 .3 .3
    Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations 2.6 2.6 5.1 5.0 .5 .4
Production, transportation, and material moving occupations 16.7 16.7 26.5 26.5 8.2 8.0
    Production occupations 7.5 7.6 10.0 10.2 5.4 5.3
    Transportation and material moving occupations 9.2 9.1 16.5 16.3 2.8 2.7

Job Prospects

According to a Gallup Poll conducted February 6-9, 2006, 40% of adults polled nationally thought it was a good time to find a quality job, as compared with 56% who thought it was a bad time to look for a job. To put these figures into perspective, these survey results are nearly identical to those from a poll taken August 16-19, 2001, when 39% believed it was a good time to find a quality job, and 56% believed it was not a good time. A survey taken October 11-14, 2001, just one month after the terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C., showed that 25% of those interviewed still considered it a good time to find a quality job, while 71% thought that it was a bad time. The most negative assessment of employment prospects during the period 2001 through 2006 came when the same question was posed March 3-5, 2003: at that time only 16% of people said it was a good time to find a quality job, with 81% believing it was a bad time to find a job.

TABLE 1.18 Employed persons by demographic characteristics, 2004–05 [CONTINUED] "10. Employed Persons by Occupation, Race, Hispanic or Latino Ethnicity, and Sex," in Employment and Earnings, U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, January 2006, http://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsaat10.pdf (accessed January 9, 2006)

TABLE 1.18
Employed persons by demographic characteristics, 2004–05 [CONTINUED]
[Percent distribution]
Occupation, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity Total Men Women
2004 2005 2004 2005 2004 2005
Note: Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not presented for all races. In addition, persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race and, therefore, are classified by ethnicity as well as by race.
SOURCE: "10. Employed Persons by Occupation, Race, Hispanic or Latino Ethnicity, and Sex," in Employment and Earnings, U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, January 2006, http://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsaat10.pdf (accessed January 9, 2006)
Asian
    Total, 16 years and over (thousands) 5,994 6,244 3,243 3,359 2,751 2,885
    Percent 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
Management, professional, and related occupations 45.2 46.4 46.3 48.0 43.8 44.5
    Management, business, and financial operations occupations 15.1 15.7 15.5 15.9 14.6 15.6
    Professional and related occupations 30.0 30.7 30.8 32.1 29.2 29.0
Service occupations 16.2 15.7 14.0 13.6 18.8 18.2
Sales and office occupations 23.0 23.3 18.7 18.7 28.2 28.7
    Sales and related occupations 11.3 11.6 11.1 11.2 11.5 11.9
    Office and administrative support occupations 11.8 11.7 7.6 7.4 16.7 16.8
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations 4.4 4.4 7.5 7.6 .6 .7
    Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations .4 .2 .4 .2 .3 .3
    Construction and extraction occupations 1.4 1.7 2.6 3.1 .1 .1
    Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations 2.6 2.5 4.5 4.4 .3 .3
Production, transportation, and material moving occupations 11.2 10.1 13.4 12.1 8.6 7.9
    Production occupations 8.4 7.3 9.0 7.9 7.6 6.7
    Transportation and material moving occupations 2.9 2.8 4.4 4.2 1.1 1.2
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity
    Total, 16 years and over (thousands) 17,930 18,632 10,832 11,337 7,098 7,295
    Percent 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
Management, professional, and related occupations 17.3 17.0 14.0 13.6 22.4 22.4
    Management, business, and financial operations occupations 7.2 7.1 6.8 6.6 7.8 7.9
    Professional and related occupations 10.1 9.9 7.2 7.0 14.6 14.4
Service occupations 24.2 23.8 20.2 19.5 30.3 30.5
Sales and office occupations 21.3 21.5 13.5 14.0 33.2 33.0
    Sales and related occupations 9.2 9.4 7.2 7.5 12.3 12.3
    Office and administrative support occupations 12.1 12.1 6.3 6.6 20.9 20.7
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations 18.0 19.1 28.5 30.0 2.0 2.0
    Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations 2.2 2.1 2.8 2.8 1.2 1.0
    Construction and extraction occupations 11.9 13.1 19.4 21.2 .4 .7
    Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations 4.0 3.8 6.3 6.0 .5 .3
Production, transportation, and material moving occupations 19.2 18.6 23.8 22.9 12.2 12.1
    Production occupations 10.6 10.1 11.8 11.1 8.6 8.5
    Transportation and material moving occupations 8.7 8.6 12.0 11.8 3.6 3.6

TABLE 1.19 Employed persons by sex, occupation, class of worker, full- or part-time status, and race, 2004–05 "Table 12. Employed Persons by Sex, Occupation, Class of Worker, Full- or Part-Time Status, and Race," in Current Population Survey, U.S Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, January 2006, http://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsaat12.pdf (accessed March 21, 2006)

TABLE 1.19
Employed persons by sex, occupation, class of worker, full- or part-time status, and race, 2004–05
[Numbers in thousands]
Category Total White Black or African American Asian
2004 2005 2004 2005 2004 2005
*Employed persons are classified as full- or part-time workers based on their usual weekly hours at all jobs regardless of the number of hours they are at work during the reference week. Persons absent from work also are classified according to their usual status.
Note: Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not presented for all races. Beginning in January 2005, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey. Dash indicates no data or data that do not meet publication criteria.
SOURCE: "Table 12. Employed Persons by Sex, Occupation, Class of Worker, Full- or Part-Time Status, and Race," in Current Population Survey, U.S Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, January 2006, http://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsaat12.pdf (accessed March 21, 2006)
Sex
Total, 16 years and over 139,252 141,730 115,239 116,949 14,909 15,313 5,994 6,244
   Men 74,524 75,973 62,712 63,763 6,912 7,155 3,243 3,359
   Women 64,728 65,757 52,527 53,186 7,997 8,158 2,751 2,885
Occupation
Management, professional, and related occupations 48,532 49,245 41,027 41,475 3,949 3,985 2,707 2,898
   Management, business, and financial operations occupations 20,235 20,450 17,590 17,668 1,408 1,451 906 983
      Management occupations 14,555 14,685 12,873 12,945 864 888 584 611
      Business and financial operations occupations 5,680 5,765 4,717 4,723 544 564 322 372
   Professional and related occupations 28,297 28,795 23,438 23,807 2,541 2,533 1,801 1,915
      Computer and mathematical occupations 3,140 3,246 2,410 2,481 236 224 439 479
      Architecture and engineering occupations 2,760 2,793 2,343 2,327 135 143 231 277
      Life, physical, and social science occupations 1,365 1,406 1,143 1,171 76 71 126 142
      Community and social services occupations 2,170 2,138 1,650 1,654 415 365 62 60
      Legal occupations 1,554 1,614 1,380 1,451 100 96 47 41
      Education, training, and library occupations 7,900 8,114 6,741 6,866 742 804 271 302
      Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations 2,687 2,736 2,336 2,402 164 160 128 117
      Healthcare practitioner and technical occupations 6,721 6,748 5,435 5,455 673 670 497 496
Service occupations 22,720 23,133 17,544 17,817 3,543 3,656 972 983
    Healthcare support occupations 2,921 3,092 1,991 2,121 758 766 102 127
    Protective service occupations 2,847 2,894 2,197 2,195 510 560 54 46
    Food preparation and serving related occupations 7,279 7,347 5,854 5,888 835 857 377 397
    Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations 5,185 5,241 4,094 4,130 773 828 159 142
    Personal care and service occupations 4,488 4,531 3,407 3,484 667 645 281 271
Sales and office occupations 35,464 35,962 29,399 29,658 3,918 4,033 1,380 1,455
    Sales and related occupations 15,938 16,433 13,557 13,881 1,430 1,507 676 721
    Office and administrative support occupations 19,481 19,529 15,842 15,777 2,487 2,526 705 733
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations 14,582 15,348 12,928 13,582 1,012 1,086 261 277
    Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations 991 976 885 882 53 50 21 15
    Construction and extraction occupations 8,522 9,145 7,642 8,158 572 643 87 106
    Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations 5,069 5,226 4,401 4,542 387 394 153 155
Production, transportation, and material moving occupations 17,954 18,041 14,340 14,418 2,488 2,552 674 632
    Production occupations 9,462 9,378 7,594 7,526 1,124 1,160 501 457
    Transportation and material moving occupations 8,491 8,664 6,746 6,892 1,364 1,393 173 175
Class of worker
Agriculture:
    Wage and salary workers 1,242 1,212 1,141 1,126 47 45 17 11
    Self-employed workers 964 955 934 922 6 7 6 9
    Unpaid family workers 27 30 26 29
Nonagricultural industries:
    Wage and salary workers 127,463 129,931 104,812 106,549 14,253 14,611 5,550 5,789
        Government 19,983 20,357 15,793 16,109 2,965 2,994 722 711
        Private industries 107,480 109,573 89,019 90,440 11,287 11,616 4,428 5,079
            Private households 779 812 628 674 103 92 23 23
            Other industries 106,701 108,761 88,391 89,766 11,184 11,525 4,805 5,056
    Self-employed workers 9,467 9,509 8,252 8,247 600 648 411 421
    Unpaid family workers 90 93 74 76 4 2 10 13
Full- or part-time status*
    Full-time workers 114,518 117,016 94,166 95,928 12,774 13,132 5,085 5,328
    Part-time workers 24,734 24,714 21,073 21,021 2,135 2,181 910 916

TABLE 1.20 Median years of tenure with current employer for employed wage and salary workers by age and sex, selected years, 1983–2004 "Table 1. Median Years of Tenure with Current Employer for Employed Wage and Salary Workers by Age and Sex, Selected Years, 1983–2004," in Employee Tenure in 2004, U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 21, 2004, http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/tenure.pdf (accessed January 9, 2006)

TABLE 1.20
Median years of tenure with current employer for employed wage and salary workers by age and sex, selected years, 1983–2004
Age and sex January 1983 January 1987 January 1991 February 1996 February 1998 February 2000 January 2002 January 2004
Note: Data exclude the incorporated and unincorporated self-employed.
SOURCE: "Table 1. Median Years of Tenure with Current Employer for Employed Wage and Salary Workers by Age and Sex, Selected Years, 1983–2004," in Employee Tenure in 2004, U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 21, 2004, http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/tenure.pdf (accessed January 9, 2006)
Total
16 years and over 3.5 3.4 3.6 3.8 3.6 3.5 3.7 4.0
    16 to 17 years .7 .6 .7 .7 .6 .6 .7 .7
    18 to 19 years .8 .7 .8 .7 .7 .7 .8 .8
    20 to 24 years 1.5 1.3 1.3 1.2 1.1 1.1 1.2 1.3
    25 years and over 5.0 5.0 4.8 5.0 4.7 4.7 4.7 4.9
        25 to 34 years 3.0 2.9 2.9 2.8 2.7 2.6 2.7 2.9
        35 to 44 years 5.2 5.5 5.4 5.3 5.0 4.8 4.6 4.9
        45 to 54 years 9.5 8.8 8.9 8.3 8.1 8.2 7.6 7.7
        55 to 64 years 12.2 11.6 11.1 10.2 10.1 10.0 9.9 9.6
        65 years and over 9.6 9.5 8.1 8.4 7.8 9.4 8.6 9.0
Men
16 years and over 4.1 4.0 4.1 4.0 3.8 3.8 3.9 4.1
    16 to 17 years .7 .6 .7 .6 .6 .6 .8 .7
    18 to 19 years .8 .7 .8 .7 .7 .7 .8 .8
    20 to 24 years 1.5 1.3 1.4 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.4 1.3
    25 years and over 5.9 5.7 5.4 5.3 4.9 4.9 4.9 5.1
        25 to 34 years 3.2 3.1 3.1 3.0 2.8 2.7 2.8 3.0
        35 to 44 years 7.3 7.0 6.5 6.1 5.5 5.3 5.0 5.2
        45 to 54 years 12.8 11.8 11.2 10.1 9.4 9.5 9.1 9.6
        55 to 64 years 15.3 14.5 13.4 10.5 11.2 10.2 10.2 9.8
        65 years and over 8.3 8.3 7.0 8.3 7.1 9.0 8.1 8.2
Women
16 years and over 3.1 3.0 3.2 3.5 3.4 3.3 3.4 3.8
    16 to 17 years .7 .6 .7 .7 .7 .6 .7 .6
    18 to 19 years .8 .7 .8 .7 .7 .7 .7 .8
    20 to 24 years 1.5 1.3 1.3 1.2 1.1 1.0 1.1 1.3
    25 years and over 4.2 4.3 4.3 4.7 4.4 4.4 4.4 4.7
        25 to 34 years 2.8 2.6 2.7 2.7 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.8
        35 to 44 years 4.1 4.4 4.5 4.8 4.5 4.3 4.2 4.5
        45 to 54 years 6.3 6.8 6.7 7.0 7.2 7.3 6.5 6.4
        55 to 64 years 9.8 9.7 9.9 10.0 9.6 9.9 9.6 9.2
        65 years and over 10.1 9.9 9.5 8.4 8.7 9.7 9.5 9.6

TABLE 1.21 Distribution of employed wage and salary workers by tenure with current employer and demographic characteristics, January 2004 "Table 3. Distribution of Employed Wage and Salary Workers by Tenure with Current Employer, Age, Sex, Race, and Hispanic or Latino Ethnicity, January 2004," in Employee Tenure in 2004, U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 21, 2004, http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/tenure.pdf (accessed January 9, 2006)

TABLE 1.21
Distribution of employed wage and salary workers by tenure with current employer and demographic characteristics, January 2004
Age, sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity Number employed (in thousands) Percent distribution by tenure with current employer
Tatal 12 moths or less 13 to 23 moths 2 years 3 to 4 years 5 to 9 years 10 to 14 years 15 to 19 years 20 years of more
*Beginning in 2003, persons who selected this race group only; persons who selected more than one race group are not included. Prior to 2003, persons who reported more than one race group were included in the group they identified as their main race.
Note: Detail for the above race groups (white, black or African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not presented for all races. In addition, persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race and, therefore, are classified by ethnicity as well as by race. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding. Data exclude the incorporated and unincorporated self-employed. Dash represents zero or rounds to zero.
SOURCE: "Table 3. Distribution of Employed Wage and Salary Workers by Tenure with Current Employer, Age, Sex, Race, and Hispanic or Latino Ethnicity, January 2004," in Employee Tenure in 2004, U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 21, 2004, http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/tenure.pdf (accessed January 9, 2006)
Total
16 years and over 121,753 100.0 23.0 7.0 5.7 18.5 19.8 9.9 6.4 9.7
    16 to 19 years 5,433 100.0 73.2 11.2 7.5 7.8 .3
    20 years and over 116,320 100.0 20.7 6.8 5.6 19.0 20.7 10.3 6.7 10.2
        20 to 24 years 13,028 100.0 49.6 12.6 10.2 20.8 6.6 .1
        25 to 34 years 27,877 100.0 26.9 9.4 7.4 25.9 23.7 5.9 .9
        35 to 44 years 30.314 100.0 17.4 5.7 4.8 19.1 25.1 13.7 9.3 5.0
        45 to 54 years 27,713 100.0 11.0 4.7 3.7 14.8 20.7 13.6 10.5 20.9
        55 to 64 years 13,983 100.0 10.4 4.0 3.4 12.8 18.8 13.9 10.6 26.0
        65 years and over 3,405 100.0 9.9 3.1 4.1 14.0 20.2 14.0 9.2 25.5
Men
16 years and over 63,146 100.0 22.4 6.6 5.6 18.3 19.6 10.1 6.5 10.9
    16 to 19 years 2,683 100.0 70.9 9.9 9.3 9.5 .4
    20 years and over 60.462 100.0 20.3 6.5 5.4 18.6 20.4 10.5 6.8 11.4
        20 to 24 years 6,798 100.0 50.0 11.4 9.6 21.5 7.4 .1
        25 to 34 years 15,209 100.0 26.0 9.1 6.9 26.4 24.1 6.6 .9
        35 to 44 years 15,885 100.0 16.4 5.0 4.7 18.1 25.1 14.6 10.4 5.6
        45 to 54 years 13,785 100.0 9.6 4.7 3.5 12.8 19.1 13.7 11.3 25.3
        55 to 64 years 7,026 100.0 11.4 3.9 3.5 12.0 17.5 12.9 9.1 29.7
        65 years and over 1,761 100.0 8.7 3.3 4.4 16.8 20.1 13.4 8.4 24.9
Women
16 years and over 58,608 100.0 23.7 7.4 5.8 18.7 20.1 9.6 6.2 8.4
    16 to 19 years 2,750 100.0 75.5 12.3 5.8 6.1 .3
    20 years and over 55,858 100.0 21.2 7.2 5.8 19.4 21.1 10.1 6.5 8.8
        20 to 24 years 6,230 100.0 49.2 13.8 10.9 20.1 5.8 .1
        25 to 34 years 12,668 100.0 27.9 9.7 7.9 25.2 23.3 5.2 .8
        35 to 44 years 14,429 100.0 18.4 6.5 4.9 20.1 25.0 12.6 8.1 4.3
        45 to 54 years 13,929 100.0 12.4 4.8 3.9 16.8 22.3 13.4 9.8 16.6
        55 to 64 years 6,957 100.0 9.4 4.1 3.3 13.6 20.2 15.0 12.1 22.2
        65 years and over 1,644 100.0 11.2 3.0 3.7 11.0 20.3 14.6 10.1 26.1
White*
16 years and over 100,243 100.0 22.7 7.1 5.4 18.2 19.6 10.2 6.6 10.2
    Men 52,758 100.0 22.3 6.7 5.3 17.9 19.3 10.3 6.7 11.5
    Women 47,485 100.0 23.2 7.6 5.5 18.5 20.0 10.1 6.4 8.7
Black or African American*
16 years and over 13,401 100.0 24.5 5.8 6.6 19.2 20.5 8.4 5.9 9.1
    Men 6,097 100.0 23.4 5.4 7.0 18.7 20.6 9.3 5.8 9.8
    Women 7,304 100.0 25.4 6.1 6.2 19.6 20.4 7.6 6.1 8.5
Asian*
16 years and over 5,131 100.0 22.3 7.2 7.5 21.5 22.8 8.6 5.3 4.9
    Men 2,678 100.0 20.3 7.2 6.8 22.4 23.5 9.5 4.8 5.4
    Women 2,453 100.0 24.3 7.2 8.2 20.6 21.9 7.6 5.8 4.3
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity
16 years and over 16,338 100.0 26.9 7.4 7.8 22.8 18.2 8.0 4.4 4.4
    Men 9,778 100.0 26.4 7.5 7.4 23.2 17.9 8.2 4.5 4.7
    Women 6,560 100.0 27.6 7.3 8.5 22.2 18.7 7.7 4.3 3.8

TABLE 1.22 Median years of tenure with current employer for employed wage and salary workers by industry, selected years, 2000–04

TABLE 1.22
Median years of tenure with current employer for employed wage and salary workers by industry, selected years, 2000–04
Industry February 2000 January 2002 January 2004
     Total, 16 years and over 3.5 3.7 4.0
Private sector 3.2 3.3 3.5
Agriculture and related industries 3.7 4.2 3.7
Nonagricultural industries 3.2 3.3 3.5
    Mining 4.8 4.5 5.2
    Construction 2.7 3.0 3.0
    Manufacturing 4.9 5.4 5.8
       Durable goods manufacturing 4.8 5.5 6.0
          Nonmetallic mineral products 5.5 5.3 4.8
          Primary metals and fabricated metal products 5.0 6.3 6.4
          Machinery manufacturing 5.3 6.8 6.4
          Computers and electronic products 3.9 4.7 5.2
          Electrical equipment and appliances 5.0 5.5 9.8
          Transportation equipment 6.4 7.0 7.7
          Wood products 3.7 4.3 5.0
          Furniture and fixtures 4.4 4.7 4.7
          Miscellaneous manufacturing 3.7 4.5 4.6
        Nondurable goods manufacturing 5.0 5.3 5.5
          Food manufacturing 4.6 5.0 4.9
          Beverage and tobacco products 5.5 4.6 8.0
          Textiles, apparel, and leather 4.7 5.0 5.0
          Paper and printing 5.1 6.2 6.9
          Petroleum and coal products 9.5 9.8 11.4
          Chemicals 6.0 5.7 5.3
          Plastics and rubber products 4.6 5.3 5.7
    Wholesale and retail trade 2.7 2.8 3.1
      Wholesale trade 3.9 3.9 4.3
      Retail trade 2.5 2.6 2.8
   Transportation and utilities 4.7 4.9 5.3
      Transportation and warehousing 4.0 4.3 4.7
      Utilities 11.5 13.4 13.3
   Information* 3.4 3.3 4.3
      Publishing, except internet 4.2 4.8 4.7
        Motion picture and sound recording industries 1.6 2.3 2.2
      Broadcasting, except internet 3.6 3.1 4.0
      Telecommunications 4.3 3.4 4.6
   Financial activities 3.5 3.6 3.9
      Finance and insurance 3.6 3.9 4.1
          Finance 3.3 3.6 4.0
          Insurance 4.4 4.5 4.4
        Real estate and rental and leasing 3.1 3.0 3.3
          Real estate 3.1 3.2 3.5
          Rental and leasing services 3.0 2.2 2.9
   Professional and business services 2.4 2.7 3.2
       Professional and technical services 2.6 3.1 3.6
       Management, administrative, and waste services* 2.0 2.1 2.6
          Administrative and support services 1.8 1.9 2.4
          Waste management and remediation services 3.6 4.3 3.4
  Education and health services 3.4 3.5 3.6
      Educational services 3.2 3.6 3.8
      Health care and social assistance 3.5 3.5 3.6
          Hospitals 5.1 4.9 4.7
          Health services, except hospitals 3.2 3.1 3.3
          Social assistance 2.4 2.5 2.8

TABLE 1.22 Median years of tenure with current employer for employed wage and salary workers by industry, selected years, 2000–04 [CONTINUED] "Table 5. Median Years of Tenure with Current Employer for Employed Wage and Salary Workers by Industry, Selected Years, 2000–04," in Employee Tenure in 2004, U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 21, 2004, http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/tenure.pdf (accessed January 9, 2006)

University of Phoenix
TABLE 1.22
Median years of tenure with current employer for employed wage and salary workers by industry, selected years, 2000–04 [CONTINUED]
Industry February 2000 January 2002 January 2004
*Includes other industries, not shown separately.
Note: Data refer to the sole or principal job of full- and part-time workers. Excluded are all self-employed full- and part-time workers. Excluded are all self-employed workers regardless of whether or not their businesses are incorporated.
SOURCE: "Table 5. Median Years of Tenure with Current Employer for Employed Wage and Salary Workers by Industry, Selected Years, 2000–04," in Employee Tenure in 2004, U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 21, 2004, http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/tenure.pdf (accessed January 9, 2006)
   Industry February 2000 January 2002 January 2004
       Leisure and hospitality 1.7 1.8 2.0
       Arts, entertainment, and recreation 2.6 2.3 2.8
       Accommodation and food services 1.5 1.6 1.9
       Accommodation 2.8 2.7 3.1
       Food services and drinking places 1.4 1.4 1.6
       Other services 3.1 3.3 3.3
       Other services, except private households 3.2 3.3 3.5
       Repair and maintenance 3.0 3.0 3.2
       Personal and laundry services 2.7 2.8 3.4
       Membership associations and organizations 4.0 4.1 3.9
   Other services, private households 3.0 2.7 2.3
Public sector 7.1 6.7 6.9
Federal government 11.5 11.3 10.4
State government 5.5 5.4 6.4
Local government 6.7 6.2 6.4

TABLE 1.23 Number of jobs held by individuals from age 18 to age 38, by demographic characteristics, 1978–2002 "Table 1. Number of Jobs Held by Individuals from Age 18 to Age 38 in 1978–2002 by Educational Attainment, Sex, Race, Hispanic or Latino Ethnicity, and Age," in Number of Jobs Held, Labor Market Activity, and Earnings Growth Among Younger Baby Boomers: Recent Results from a Longitudinal Survey, U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, August 25, 2004, http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/nlsoy.pdf (accessed January 2, 2006)

TABLE 1.23
Number of jobs held by individuals from age 18 to age 38, by demographic characteristics, 1978–2002
Characteristic Average number of jobs for persons ages 18 to 38 in 1978–2002
Total* Ages 18 to 22 Ages 23 to 27 Ages 28 to 32 Ages 33 to 38
*Jobs that were held in more than one of the age categories were counted in each appropriate column, but only once in the total column.
Notes: The first two columns exclude individuals who turned age 18 before January 1,1978. The first and last columns exclude individuals who had not yet turned age 39 when interviewed in 2002. The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 consists of men and women who were born in the years 1957–64 and were ages 14 to 22 when first interviewed in 1979. These individuals were ages 37 to 45 in 2002. Educational attainment is defined as of the 2002 survey. Race and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity groups are mutually exclusive but not exhaustive. Other race groups, which are included in the overall totals, are not shown separately because their representation in the survey sample is not sufficiently large to provide statistically reliable estimates.
SOURCE: "Table 1. Number of Jobs Held by Individuals from Age 18 to Age 38 in 1978–2002 by Educational Attainment, Sex, Race, Hispanic or Latino Ethnicity, and Age," in Number of Jobs Held, Labor Market Activity, and Earnings Growth Among Younger Baby Boomers: Recent Results from a Longitudinal Survey, U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, August 25, 2004, http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/nlsoy.pdf (accessed January 2, 2006)
Total 10.2 4.4 3.3 2.6 2.5
Less than a high school diploma 10.3 3.9 3.2 2.6 2.5
High school graduates, no college 9.7 4.2 3.0 2.6 2.5
Less than a bachelor's degree 10.5 4.6 3.7 2.7 2.6
Bachelor's degree and higher 10.6 5.0 3.5 2.6 2.3
Men 10.4 4.5 3.5 2.8 2.5
Less than a high school diploma 11.6 4.6 3.8 3.0 2.7
High school graduates, no college 10.2 4.5 3.4 2.8 2.4
Less than a bachelor's degree 10.6 4.6 3.4 2.9 2.7
Bachelor's degree and higher 10.0 4.6 3.4 2.6 2.4
Women 9.9 4.3 3.1 2.4 2.4
Less than a high school diploma 8.5 3.0 2.4 2.1 2.2
High school graduates, no college 9.2 3.8 2.7 2.3 2.5
Less than a bachelor's degree 10.4 4.6 3.3 2.5 2.5
Bachelor's degree and higher 11.1 5.4 3.7 2.7 2.2
White non-Hispanic 10.3 4.6 3.3 2.6 2.5
Less than a high school diploma 10.8 4.3 3.3 2.7 2.6
High school graduates, no college 9.7 4.3 3.1 2.6 2.5
Less than a bachelor's degree 10.8 4.8 3.5 2.7 2.6
Bachelor's degree and higher 10.6 5.1 3.5 2.6 2.3
Black non-Hispanic 9.6 3.6 3.1 2.7 2.6
Less than a high school diploma 9.1 2.9 2.9 2.6 2.3
High school graduates, no college 9.7 3.5 3.0 2.7 2.5
Less than a bachelor's degree 9.7 3.8 3.1 2.6 2.7
Bachelor's degree and higher 9.9 4.2 3.6 2.8 2.7
Hispanic or Latino 9.6 4.0 3.0 2.5 2.4
Less than a high school diploma 9.6 3.9 3.0 2.4 2.3
High school graduates, no college 9.5 3.9 2.9 2.5 2.4
Less than a bachelor's degree 9.5 4.2 3.0 2.5 2.4
Bachelor's degree and higher 10.5 4.5 3.4 2.8 2.5

TABLE 1.24 Union affiliation of employed wage and salary workers by selected characteristics, 2004–05 "Table 1. Union Affiliation of Employed Wage and Salary Workers by Selected Characteristics," in Union Members in 2005, U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, January 20, 2006, http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/union2.pdf (accessed January 27, 2006)

TABLE 1.24
Union affiliation of employed wage and salary workers by selected characteristics, 2004–05
[Numbers in thousands]
Characteristic 2004 2005
Total employed Members of unionsa Represented by unionsb Total employed Members of unionsa Represented by unionsb
Total Percent of employed Total Percent of employed Total Percent of employed Total Percent of employed
aData refer to members of a labor union or an employee association similar to a union.
bData refer to members of a labor union or an employee association similar to a union as well as workers who report no union affiliation but whose jobs are covered by a union or an employee association contract.
cThe distinction between full- and part-time workers is based on hours usually worked. These data will not sum to totals because full- or part-time status on the principal job is not identifiable for a small number of multiple jobholders.
Notes: Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not presented for all races. In addition, persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race and, therefore, are classified by ethnicity as well as race. Data refer to the sole or principal job of full- and part-time workers. Excluded are all self-employed workers regardless of whether or not their businesses are incorporated.
SOURCE: "Table 1. Union Affiliation of Employed Wage and Salary Workers by Selected Characteristics," in Union Members in 2005, U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, January 20, 2006, http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/union2.pdf (accessed January 27, 2006)
Age and sex
    Total, 16 years and over 123,554 15,472 12.5 17,087 13.8 125,889 15,685 2.5 17,223 13.7
16 to 24 years 19,109 890 4.7 1,019 5.3 19,283 878 4.6 1,019 5.3
25 years and over 104,444 14,581 14.0 16,069 15.4 106,606 14,808 13.9 16,204 15.2
    25 to 34 years 28,202 2,982 10.6 3,316 11.8 28,450 3,044 10.7 3,368 11.8
    35 to 44 years 30,470 4,173 13.7 4,590 15.1 30,654 4,211 13.7 4,579 14.9
    45 to 54 years 28,039 4,771 17.0 5,233 18.7 28,714 4,731 16.5 5,158 18.0
    55 to 64 years 14,239 2,390 16.8 2,617 18.4 15,158 2,496 16.5 2,732 18.0
    65 years and over 3,495 264 7.5 314 9.0 3,631 325 8.9 366 10.1
Men, 16 years and over 64,145 8,878 13.8 9,638 15.0 65,466 8,870 13.5 9,597 14.7
    16 to 24 years 9,835 557 5.7 627 6.4 9,860 523 5.3 603 6.1
    25 years and over 54,310 8,321 15.3 9,010 16.6 55,606 8,347 15.0 8,994 16.2
       25 to 34 years 15,391 1,722 11.2 1,873 12.2 15,559 1,754 11.3 1,915 12.3
       35 to 44 years 16,035 2,449 15.3 2,658 16.6 16,196 2,422 15.0 2,582 15.9
       45 to 54 years 14,026 2,699 19.2 2,903 20.7 14,421 2,658 18.4 2,849 19.8
       55 to 64 years 7,117 1,309 18.4 1,414 19.9 7,606 1,346 17.7 1,458 19.2
       65 years and over 1,741 142 8.2 163 9.4 1,824 167 9.1 190 10.4
Women, 16 years and over 59,408 6,593 11.1 7,450 12.5 60,423 6,815 11.3 7,626 12.6
    16 to 24 years 9,274 333 3.6 391 4.2 9,423 354 3.8 417 4.4
    25 years and over 50,134 6,260 12.5 7,058 14.1 51,000 6,461 12.7 7,210 14.1
       25 to 34 years 12,811 1,261 9.8 1,443 11.3 12,891 1,290 10.0 1,454 11.3
       35 to 44 years 14,435 1,725 11.9 1,931 13.4 14,457 1,790 12.4 1,997 13.8
       45 to 54 years 14,014 2,072 14.8 2,330 16.6 14,293 2,073 14.5 2,309 16.2
       55 to 64 years 7,122 1,081 15.2 1,203 16.9 7,552 1,150 15.2 1,274 16.9
       65 years and over 1,753 121 6.9 151 8.6 1,806 158 8.8 176 9.8
Race, Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, and sex
White, 16 years and over 101,340 12,381 12.2 13,657 13.5 102,967 12,520 12.2 3,755 13.4
    Men 53,432 7,260 13.6 7,854 14.7 54,462 7,275 13.4 7,858 14.4
    Women 47,908 5,121 10.7 5,803 12.1 48,505 5,245 10.8 5,897 12.2
Black or African American, 16 years and over 14,090 2,130 15.1 2,355 16.7 14,459 2,178 15.1 2,391 16.5
    Men 6,409 1,085 16.9 1,185 18.5 6,603 1,062 16.1 1,166 17.7
    Women 7,681 1,045 13.6 1,170 15.2 7,857 1,115 14.2 1,225 15.6
Asian, 16 years and over 5,280 603 11.4 670 12.7 5,479 614 11.2 666 12.2
    Men 2,815 328 11.7 371 13.2 2,881 314 10.9 337 11.7
    Women 2,465 275 11.1 299 12.1 2,598 299 11.5 329 12.7
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 16 years and over 16,533 1,676 10.1 1,888 11.4 17,191 1,793 10.4 1,981 11.5
    Men 9,857 1,016 10.3 1,130 11.5 10,324 1,093 10.6 1,185 11.5
    Women 6,676 661 9.9 758 11.4 6,866 700 10.2 796 11.6
Full- or part-time statusc
Full-time workers 101,224 14,029 13.9 15,463 15.3 103,560 14,207 13.7 15,551 15.0
Part-time workers 22,047 1,406 6.4 1,587 7.2 22,052 1,441 6.5 1,630 7.4

TABLE 1.25 Union affiliation of employed wage and salary workers by occupation and industry, 2004–05

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TABLE 1.25
Union affiliation of employed wage and salary workers by occupation and industry, 2004–05
[Numbers in thousands]
Occupation and industry 2004 2005
Total employed Members of Unionsa Represented by unionsb Total employed Members of Unionsa Represented by unionsb
Total Percent of employed Total Percent of employed Total Percent of employed Total Percent of employed
Occupation