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ONLY 25% OF AMERICAN WORKERS FEEL JOB MARKET IS IMPROVING
Labor Day Survey Finds Workers Worried About Job Market, Retirement and Healthcare Costs

Saddle Brook, NJ (August 15, 2005) – Despite a positive jobs report in July, only 25% of American workers see the job market as improving, according to a 2005 Labor Day survey by Ajilon Professional Staffing, a unit of Adecco (NYSE: ADO), the world's largest staffing firm. Furthermore, 22% describe job growth as minimal, and 41% gave the economy mixed reviews.

"It's no surprise. American workers have been overworked and underpaid for quite some time now and it's going to take a lot to convince them we have an enduring, strong job market," stated Neil Lebovits, CPA, president and COO of Ajilon Professional Staffing. "The July Jobs Report of 207,000 workers gaining jobs is one positive sign, but we need a few such months in a row of really robust job creation before workers are truly convinced."

American workers are worried about other matters too, the Ajilon Professional Staffing survey found. Respondents rated “being able to retire comfortably” the top concern (37%), followed by the rising cost of healthcare (24%). The remaining worries were: a stagnant paycheck (12%), outsourcing of jobs (10%) and being laid off because business is slow (9%).

“The rising cost of healthcare and retirement worries are clearly major issues to American workers today,” said Lebovits. “To help alleviate some of the stress associated with these two issues there are some basic things employers can do to help their employees help themselves.”

Here are some things employers can do to help with these concerns:

Encourage your employees to invest more in their 401Ks. Millions of Americans pass up the chance to contribute to a 401k with matching contributions. Millions more make contributions far smaller than they should. Employers can help workers alleviate the stress regarding retirement by encouraging them to contribute to a 401K plan if they aren’t already doing so and invest more in their 401K plans if there is room. The more information a company shares with its employees about the benefits of a 401K plan, the more it will encourage them to participate.
Healthy Employees = Less Healthcare Costs and Concerns. By creating an environment that promotes good health habits, companies are helping employees help themselves. Some companies have taken up smoking cessation programs, while others go as far as re-designing their offices to promote walking. Other simple ways employers can help is to offer health club memberships or discounts, provide healthy snacks on-site or allow workers to take exercise breaks.
Invest in Helping to Control Chronic Diseases in the Workplace. Chronic diseases like hypertension, diabetes, asthma and depression among other conditions cause absenteeism from work and run up people’s health care costs. Some companies provide helpful programs such as blood sugar measurement for diabetes and blood pressure, weight and cholesterol measurements for heart disease. Employees must volunteer to participate, but the chances of employees getting these types of health risk assessments are higher if they are easily accessible on the job.

The Ajilon Professional Staffing 2005 Labor Day Survey aims to provide insight into the state of the American workforce and is a part of Ajilon Professional Staffing’s “Profiles of the American Worker” survey series. This series was designed to help employers and employees gain a better understanding of one another to form stronger, mutually beneficial relationships and improve the workplace.