Americans are working, but most don’t have quality jobs, study shows – CBS News

Report on U.S. Job Quality and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

A recent report from the advocacy group Jobs for the Future, conducted in partnership with Gallup and other research institutes, reveals a significant deficit in job quality within the United States. The findings indicate that 60% of American workers are employed in positions that fail to meet basic standards for quality. This situation presents a substantial challenge to the achievement of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and has cascading implications for SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

The Decent Work Deficit: An Analysis against SDG 8

The core findings of the study highlight a misalignment between the state of the U.S. labor market and the principles of decent work as outlined in SDG 8. The research defines a quality job, synonymous with the concept of “decent work,” based on five primary criteria:

• Financial Well-being: Fair pay and stable employment.
• Workplace Culture and Safety: Freedom from discrimination and harassment.
• Growth and Development: Opportunities for skill development and career advancement.
• Agency and Voice: The ability to influence workplace decisions.
• Work Structure and Agency: Predictable schedules and manageable workloads.

According to the survey of over 18,000 workers, only 40% are in jobs that meet these standards. This deficit directly impacts the targets of SDG 8.

Key Findings in Relation to SDG Targets

1. Target 8.5 (Full, productive employment and decent work for all): The report indicates a failure in providing decent work. Approximately one-third of surveyed workers report struggling financially, with only 27% stating their pay is sufficient to be financially comfortable. This undermines the goal of productive employment that provides a decent living.
2. Target 8.8 (Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments): The data reveals significant issues in working conditions.
   • More than six in 10 employees (62%) lack predictable work schedules.
   • Over half of workers report frequently or sometimes working more hours than scheduled.
   • A lack of employee input on the adoption of new technologies, such as AI, points to a deficit in worker agency and voice.

Broader Implications for Sustainable Development

Impact on Poverty, Inequality, and Well-being

The prevalence of low-quality jobs has direct consequences for other SDGs:

• SDG 1 (No Poverty): With nearly a third of workers describing themselves as “just getting by” or “finding it difficult to get by,” low-quality employment is shown to be an insufficient tool for poverty eradication.
• SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): The lack of fair pay, control over schedules, and opportunities for advancement can entrench and exacerbate economic inequalities.
• SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): Unpredictable schedules, unmanageable workloads, and financial precarity are significant stressors that can negatively impact the mental and physical well-being of workers.
• SDG 4 (Quality Education): The finding that one in four employees have no opportunities for promotion or advancement at their job hinders the principle of lifelong learning and personal development.

Conclusion

The research underscores that measuring employment quantity alone is an inadequate metric for assessing economic health. The widespread lack of quality jobs in the U.S. workforce poses a direct impediment to achieving SDG 8 and creates significant barriers to progress on goals related to poverty, health, and inequality. A strategic focus on improving job quality is essential for fostering sustainable and inclusive economic prosperity in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Analysis of SDGs in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article highlights several issues related to job quality in the U.S., which directly and indirectly connect to multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary focus on fair pay, working conditions, and career opportunities links the article’s content to the following SDGs:

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: This is the most central SDG to the article. The entire discussion revolves around the concept of a “quality” job, which is synonymous with “decent work.” The article examines aspects like fair pay, job stability, workplace safety, and opportunities for advancement, all of which are core components of SDG 8.
• SDG 1: No Poverty: The article connects poor job quality directly to financial hardship. By stating that about one-third of workers are “struggling financially” and that nearly 3 in 10 are “‘just getting by’ or ‘finding it difficult to get by,'” it addresses the goal of ending poverty in all its forms. Inadequate pay from non-quality jobs is presented as a key driver of financial instability.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The article identifies “freedom from discrimination or harassment” as a key criterion for a quality job. This directly relates to SDG 10, which aims to ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome by eliminating discriminatory practices.
• SDG 4: Quality Education: The article touches upon lifelong learning and skill development by highlighting that “growth and development opportunities” are a pillar of a quality job. The finding that “One in four employees say they have no opportunities for promotion or advancement at work” connects to the goals of providing relevant skills for employment.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the specific issues discussed, several SDG targets can be identified:

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• Target 8.5: “By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men… and equal pay for work of equal value.” The article’s core finding that “Six in 10 U.S. workers say their jobs fall short of the standards for a ‘quality’ position” directly addresses the challenge of achieving decent work for all. The focus on “fair pay” also aligns with this target.
• Target 8.8: “Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers…” The article defines a quality job as one that includes “workplace culture and safety, meaning the worker is free from discrimination or harassment.” It also discusses issues like “unpredictable work schedules” and a “manageable workload,” which fall under the umbrella of secure and fair working environments.

SDG 1: No Poverty

• Target 1.2: “By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions.” The article’s statistic that “nearly 3 in 10 described themselves as ‘just getting by’ or ‘finding it difficult to get by'” serves as a measure of in-work poverty or financial precarity, which is a key dimension of poverty within a developed nation like the U.S.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

• Target 10.3: “Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory… policies and practices…” The inclusion of a workplace being “free from discrimination or harassment” as a criterion for a quality job directly points to this target, which focuses on ensuring equal opportunity for all in the workplace.

SDG 4: Quality Education

• Target 4.4: “By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills… for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship.” The article highlights the lack of “growth and development opportunities” and notes that 25% of employees have no chance for promotion. This relates to the need for continuous skill development and lifelong learning opportunities to secure and advance in decent jobs.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article provides several quantitative and qualitative indicators from the research that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets.

Indicators for SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth)

• Proportion of the workforce in “quality” jobs: The article states that only 40% of workers are in quality jobs, while 60% are not. This is a direct indicator for Target 8.5.
• Proportion of workers with unpredictable schedules: The finding that “62% of employees said they have unpredictable work schedules” is a specific indicator for Target 8.8, measuring the security of working environments.
• Proportion of workers with control over their schedule: The statistic that “more than six in 10 employees said they lack control over their schedules” is another indicator related to worker agency and decent working conditions (Target 8.8).

Indicators for SDG 1 (No Poverty)

• Proportion of workers experiencing financial hardship: The statistic that “nearly 3 in 10 described themselves as ‘just getting by’ or ‘finding it difficult to get by'” serves as a direct indicator for measuring in-work poverty (Target 1.2).
• Proportion of workers feeling financially comfortable with their pay: The finding that “Only 27% of those surveyed… said their jobs pay enough for them to feel financially comfortable” is an inverse indicator of financial struggle (Target 1.2).

Indicators for SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities)

• Prevalence of discrimination and harassment: While no percentage is given, the article implies an indicator by listing “the worker is free from discrimination or harassment” as a key measure of job quality. Progress towards Target 10.3 could be measured by surveying the percentage of workers who report experiencing such issues.

Indicators for SDG 4 (Quality Education)

• Proportion of employees with access to advancement opportunities: The statistic that “One in four employees say they have no opportunities for promotion or advancement at work” is a clear indicator for Target 4.4, measuring the availability of on-the-job training and career development.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: cbsnews.com