The Heldrich Center for Workforce Development is pleased to announce the availability of two new research products resulting from its long-running public opinion polling series, Work Trends.
To better understand the public’s attitudes about work, employers, and the government, and improve workplace practices and policies, the Heldrich Center produces Work Trends surveys on a regular basis to inform employers, union leaders, policymakers, community members, the media, and academic communities about critical workforce and educational issues facing Americans and American businesses.
A new research brief, Exploring 2024 and 2020 Election-Year Longitudinal Trends in Support for Minimum Wage, College Loan Forgiveness, and Paid Leave Among U.S. Workers: Republicans Appear More Supportive of Policies for Some Americans Over Time, features findings from a December 2024 survey of U.S. workers about policy proposals related to the economy, education, and work. These policy proposals were also the subject of survey questions asked of workers in December 2020, after Joe Biden was declared the winner of the 2020 presidential election, and as COVID-19 vaccines began rolling out across the nation.
The U.S. labor force (workers who are employed full or part time, are on temporary leave or furlough, or are unemployed and looking for work) was asked about the following policy proposals discussed during the 2020 and 2024 presidential campaigns:
- Raising the federal minimum wage to at least $15 per hour,
- Eliminating college loan debt for low- and moderate-income individuals, and
- Ensuring workers can take paid family leave when needed.
While there was broad support for all three economic policies, deeper analysis revealed shifting perspectives across demographic and political lines between the 2020 and 2024 surveys. These trends highlight evolving attitudes toward economic equity and the government’s role in addressing financing challenges facing working Americans. With a new administration in place and potential policy shifts on the horizon, the direction of U.S. workers’ opinions and the likelihood of policies being enacted may continue to change in the years ahead.
The brief was written by Heldrich Center staff members Jessica Starace, Survey Research Manager; Kristine Joy Bacani, Research Project Coordinator; and Brittney Donovan, Research Project Coordinator.
Additionally, the Heldrich Center has launched a new website that explores findings from Work Trends surveys over the past 25 years. The site offers information on some of Work Trends’ more notable projects, including topics studied and selected findings. Chapters in the collection focus on the following topics:
- American workers’ attitudes about work, employers, and government;
- The technology boom and bust;
- The impact of technology and artificial intelligence on jobs
- The experiences of recent high school and college graduates;
- Long-term unemployment;
- The Great Recession and slow recovery;
- The COVID-19 recession, economic recovery, and inflation;
- Older workers, job loss, and retirement;
- Discrimination in the workplace; and
- Employee benefits programs, accessibility, families, and wellness programs in the workplace.
Bookmark the Work Trends site today!