Study: Recession Has Hit More than Half of Us
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Since the recession began 30 months ago, more than half of all adults in the workforce—55 percent—say that they have either been unemployed, taken a pay cut, had their work hours reduced or have become involuntary part-time workers, according to a new survey by the Pew Research Center’s Social and Demographic Trends Project.
The survey shows the impact of the recession goes far beyond the 9.5 percent of the workforce that is unemployed and the 16.5 percent underemployed. About a third of respondents—32 percent—said they have been unemployed for some period of time during the recession.
The prolonged recession—the longest in recent history—has left a big mark on the country, Paul Taylor, the Pew project director, told ABC News:
What this report demonstrates is the breadth and depth of the impact of this recession on the American public. It’s hit almost everybody in one way or another, and two and a half years after it began, people are still feeling the effects. This is still very much with us.
The survey points to the immediate need for action to create jobs and stem the economic hemorrhaging. But Republicans in Congress have refused to act to create jobs, stop layoffs and help the jobless. Writing today on Huffington Post, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka says we need a job-centered approach to strengthening the economy. Read Trumka’s Huffington Post column “Jobs Should Come First” here.
Health Insurance Premiums Soar as New Polls Show Americans Want Reform
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Recent polls show a majority of Americans want Congress to pass comprehensive health care reform now. And for good reason: There’s more news out this week about the enormous increases in health insurance premiums, according to a new report.
A survey from Economist/YouGov released this week shows 53 percent of respondents support changes proposed by the Obama administration. A second poll by Ipsos/McClutchey shows that 53 percent of Americans either support the current reform option or hope for an even stronger reform package. More than a third of those who oppose current reform proposals actually favor stronger reforms.
