I saw these recently and found them interesting - while the sampling group of each survey was relatively small in relation to the total number of employees the corresponding industry (100 in finance, 250 in government and 100 in hospitality) the gist of course is supposed to be superimposing these numbers over the industries as a whole. Now, I don’t know if that would really be an accurate assessment with such a small sampling group but, they are interesting figures nonetheless.

Forty percent of finance workers are counting on a new job in 2005. Dissatisfied with pay, workload and management, one-in-ten finance workers say they are looking for a new job on a weekly basis. The survey, “2005 Outlook: Finance Workers,” was conducted from November 22, 2004 to December 2, 2004 of 100 workers in finance.

and...

Thirty-five percent of government workers say they are ready to move on to a new job in 2005. While the majority of government workers say they are satisfied with their current jobs, one fourth say they are dissatisfied and looking for positions with higher pay and higher titles. The survey, “2005 Outlook: Government Workers,” was conducted from November 22, 2004 to December 2, 2004 of more than 250 workers.

and...

In search of better pay and career advancement opportunities and employers who are... well, more hospitable, 59% of hospitality workers expect to leave their current jobs this year. One third feel their employment prospects have improved in the last six months and 15 percent report they are looking for a new job on a daily basis. The survey, “2005 Outlook: Hospitality Workers,” was conducted from November 22 to December 2, 2004 and included 100 hospitality workers.

I almost think I should be listing a multiple choice question ala the SAT’s after these three links but, instead I just wonder what the implications are for Americans in the workplace. In all three surveys, there is mention of unhappiness with wages and I’m sure many of us recognize that it doesn’t seem as if wages are keeping up with expenses in our society. Still, there is the downward pressure placed on wages by companies outsourcing jobs overseas to places where labor costs are much, much cheaper.

Is the pendulum swinging back towards the American worker?

I don’t know, I kind of don’t think so.

I do think however we may be on the precipice of a time when there will be sweeping reforms in this country. There will come a point when things get worse and when they do, I think people will begin to make it their business to change the nature of work in this country.