Survey Says Californians More Concerned About Job Woes Than State's Financial Crisis Ahead of Gubernatorial Election

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Even though Labor Day is usually associated with rest and relaxation, it may be a painful reminder just two months before the gubernatorial election with Californians* citing a stagnant labor market as the state's most pressing problem, according to data released today in the 2nd Annual California Labor Day Survey conducted by Harris/Decima on behalf of Everest College.

The survey found that 41% of respondents believe the job environment is California's top economic issue, followed by the state's financial crisis (29%). The result was in sharp contrast and a complete reversal to 2009, when the top concern was the financial crisis (43%), followed by the employment picture (27%).

ATTENTION EDITORS: A panel discussion with Jack Kyser, chief economic advisor for the Southern California Association of Governments; David Smith, associate dean and professor of economics at Pepperdine University; Daisy Swan, career strategist with Daisy Swan & Associates; and John Andrews, regional vice president of Everest College, will be held today at 10 a.m. PDT to discuss the survey’s findings.  To listen live, please visit http://webcasts.everest.edu and click on the California Labor Day Survey link or call (877) 941-2333 and ask for the California Labor Day Survey. Questions may be posed to panelists in advance by emailing them to moderator Evan Pondel at [email protected]. A replay of the panel will be available until Sept. 15, 2010 and can be accessed by visiting the California Labor Day Survey link located at http://webcasts.everest.edu or by phone at 1-800-406-7325 with access code 4346489.

With the state's unemployment rate at 12.3% in July, the study found that more Californians in 2010 have considered various options to deal with the sluggish job market when compared with 2009. Specifically, 37% of employed Californians have considered returning to school to enhance their career compared with 28% in 2009, and 36% have contemplated a new career to make more money versus 28% the previous year.

"The state's unemployment rate is the third highest in the nation and easily the most important economic issue for Californians right now," said John Andrews, regional vice president of operations at Everest College.  "However, as the study indicates, Californians continue to be proactive in the face of job uncertainty, with many considering skills training or other educational avenues to improve their employment opportunities."

For example, as of June 30, 2010, enrollment at Everest's California campuses rose 22% during a two-year period, in large part due to the popularity of Everest's healthcare programs, which includes medical assisting, recently named by Forbes magazine as one of the fastest growing jobs for women in 2010.

More Work, Less Job Security

The survey found that 53% of Californians are experiencing heavier workloads and 50% have less job security than they did two years ago. Among those Californians who are employed by an employer, one in four think they will be laid off in the next 12 months and more than a third (36%) expect to lose some or all benefits during the same time period.

A striking finding of the survey indicated that more Southern Californians than Northern Californians indicated they were working harder (63% vs. 43%), have longer hours (58% vs. 38%) and expect to lose some or all benefits (43% vs. 29%).

Meanwhile, one-quarter (27%) of the state's employed residents said they will be working during Labor Day weekend, with 18% planning to work eight hours or more. Californians with an annual household income of less than $60,000 are feeling the most heat, with this income bracket representing the greatest percentage of workers (22%) who plan to log at least eight hours or more during the holiday weekend.

On-The-Job Stress Levels Rise

Even though a majority of workers (65%) are satisfied with their jobs, the survey found that there is plenty of work-related anxiety and hardship to go around.

Half of all workers (52%) agree that their level of on-the-job stress has increased in the last two years, with Southern Californians again citing more angst at work by a margin of 57% to 46% over Northern Californians.

If they lost their job, 43% of employed Californians said they would consider leaving California to search for a new job. Men (49%) and those aged 18-49 (48%) are the most likely groups to leave the state in search of a new job.

Hope in Education

While conducting a job search, one-quarter of Californians (27%) said furthering their education would make them more attractive to prospective employers.

"To put it mildly, the job market is tough right now and the competition is fierce," Andrews said. "I think the grip of this recession and jobless recovery has had a major impact on Californians, and many are considering this a perfect time to return to school and pursue careers in high-growth occupational areas that will meet the state's skill shortages, offer work/life balance, and provide personal and financial rewards."

By the Numbers: California Labor Day Survey Fast Facts

• Including commute time, 41% of employed Californians work more than 10 hours per day
• 39% said they have less time for family and friends due to longer working hours, consistent with 35% in 2009
• Respondents with less than a high school education were more concerned about their employment future compared to those with vocational or technical college, as 57% said they have less job security than two years ago (vs. 37%)
• Three-quarters of Californians (76%) agreed that employers need to make work/life balance more of a priority. Women are significantly more likely than men to agree with this (82% vs. 71%)

About the Survey

*This data was gathered by Harris/Decima through telephone interviews between July 15th and July 24th, 2010. A total of 600 Californians were surveyed – 470 employed and 130 unemployed. The corresponding margin of error for employed Californians is +/-4.5%, 19 times out of 20, and unemployed Californians is +/-8.6%, 19 times out of 20.

About Everest College

Everest College provides career-oriented diploma and degree programs in healthcare, criminal justice, skilled trades, business, paralegal, and information technology.  Everest College has 14 campuses in California – Alhambra, Anaheim, City of Industry, Gardena, Hayward, Los Angeles, Ontario, Ontario Metro, Reseda, San Bernardino, San Francisco, San Jose, Torrance, and West Los Angeles. Everest has 100 schools in the U.S. and Canada, and is owned by Corinthian Colleges, Inc., one of the largest post-secondary education companies in North America.  For more information, visit www.everest.edu.

EDITOR'S NOTE: John Andrews, regional vice president of operations for Everest College, is available for interviews to discuss the survey and provide tips on recession-proofing your career.  To schedule an interview with Andrews or for more information on the 2nd Annual California Labor Day Survey, please contact Ron Neal or George Medici at PondelWilkinson Inc.: Tel: 310-279-5980; Email: [email protected] and/or [email protected]

SOURCE Everest College