Small paychecks and long commutes are delivering a one-two punch to
American workers, as eight in 10 employed adults say they are
stressed out on the job, according to data released today in the
2014 Work Stress Survey conducted by Nielsen (formerly Harris
Interactive) on behalf of Everest College.
The telephone survey of 1,004 employed adults found that 80
percent of Americans are stressed by at least one thing at work,
showing negligible improvement over 2013 (83%). The survey was
conducted to coincide with April's Stress Awareness Month, when
health care professionals across the country join forces to
increase public awareness about the causes and cures for the modern
stress epidemic.
For the fourth consecutive year, paltry paychecks were a top
stressor, with 13 percent of adults ranking low wages as the most
stressful aspect of work. Low pay shared the top spot with
Americans' commute to and from work, which jumped to 13 percent
from 11 percent in 2012 and 9 percent in 2011, respectively.
Unreasonable workload (12%) finished third as the one thing that
stresses Americans the most at work, followed by annoying coworkers
(10%), poor work-life balance (8%) working in a job that is not a
chosen career (6%), lack of opportunity for advancement (5%), the
boss (5%), and fear of being fired or laid off (4%).
"When it comes to stress at the workplace, low pay and a long
commute is a double whammy for American workers, especially for
those who are experiencing both at the same time," said Wendy
Cullen, vice president of employer development for Everest College.
"I don't think you can ever eliminate all the factors that cause
workplace anxiety, but as individuals we can definitely create a
plan of action to improve our careers and change our lives."
Income, Education Play Key Role in Defining Top
Stressors
When determining workplace stress, levels of income and
education play a significant role in determining the top stressors,
according to the survey. Low pay is most often cited among those
with household incomes of under $50,000 and those with less than
college educations. The highest earners and those with at least
college educations, however, are more likely to cite unreasonable
workload and poor work-life balance.
Meanwhile, men and women appear to be closer than previous years
in agreeing on the top stress factor at work. In previous years,
women were significantly more likely to say low pay was their main
workplace stressor, however, the responses given between the two
groups narrowed this year, with 14 percent of women choosing low
pay compared with 11 percent of men. Last year, women selected low
pay as the most stressful aspect of their job at nearly twice the
rate of men (18% to 10%).
Regionally, 86 percent of survey respondents in the Northeast
said something in the workplace stresses them out compared with 75
percent of Americans in the West. Low pay was the No. 1 reason by a
high margin in the Northeast (17%) when compared with the West
(11%). At the same time, annoying coworkers ranked significantly
higher in the Midwest (15%) than in the West (8%) and South
(7%).
"Work occupies a large portion of our lives, so keeping
workplace stress in check is an absolute necessity in maintaining
overall wellness," Cullen said. "Having a stable, satisfying career
with good pay and plenty of job security is paramount for any
worker, which is why education and training are more important than
ever.
"A recent Pew Research Center study shed light on how income and
education go hand in hand, and at Everest College, we are committed
to putting students first, from class to career, with numerous
higher education options and training programs for in-demand
industries that are vital to the economy."
Top Careers for Growth
According to a 2013 report from the Bureau of Labor
Statistics, occupations related to health care are projected to add
the most new jobs between 2012 and 2022, with total employment
projected to increase nearly 11 percent or 15.6 million during the
decade. According to the report, occupations that typically require
post-secondary education for entry are expected, on average, to
grow faster than occupations that require a high school diploma or
less. Some of these health care careers include:
- Medical assistants
- Personal care aides
- Dental assistants
- Medical secretaries
- Physician therapist aides
By the Numbers: 2014 Work Stress Survey Fast
Facts
- While 80 percent of Americans said at least one thing is
stressful about their jobs, 18 percent said nothing stresses them
out about their jobs
- American workers 65 and older are more likely than any other
age group to say there is nothing about their job that stresses
them out (50%)
About the Survey
Everest College's 2014 Work Stress Survey was conducted by
telephone within the United States by Nielsen between Feb. 20 and
March 2, 2014 among 1,004 employed U.S. adults ages 18+. Results
were weighted for age, sex, geographic region, and race when
necessary to align them with their actual proportions in the
population.
About Everest College
Everest College is part of Corinthian Colleges, Inc., one of the
largest post-secondary education companies in North America. Its
mission is to prepare students for careers in demand or for
advancement in their chosen field. It offers diploma programs and
associate and bachelor's degrees in a variety of occupational
areas, including health care, criminal justice, business,
information technology and construction trades. Programs vary by
campus. For more information, please visit www.everest.edu. For
more information about our graduation rates, the median debt of
students who completed the program and other important information,
please visit our website at www.everest.edu/disclosures.
About Nielsen
On February 3, 2014, Nielsen acquired Harris Interactive and the
Harris Poll. Nielsen Holdings N.V. (NYSE:NLSN) is a global
information and measurement company with leading market positions
in marketing and consumer information, television and other media
measurement, online intelligence and mobile measurement. Nielsen
has a presence in approximately 100 countries, with headquarters in
New York, USA and Diemen, the Netherlands. For more information,
visit www.nielsen.com.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Wendy Cullen, vice president of
employer development at Everest College, is available for
interviews to discuss the survey. To schedule an interview or
for more information on the 2014 Work Stress Survey, please contact
Ron Neal or Keemia Ferasat at PondelWilkinson Inc.: Tel:
310-279-5980; Email: rneal@pondel.com and/or
kferasat@pondel.com
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