STM Blog
Less Than Half of U.S. Workers Have Quality Jobs, Landmark Study Reveals
Last Updated on October 23, 2025 by Daily News Staff
New research exposes a hidden crisis in America’s workforce—and what it means for businesses and workers alike
Less Than Half of U.S. Workers Have Quality Jobs, Landmark Study Reveals
When we talk about the health of the economy, we usually focus on unemployment rates and wage growth. But a groundbreaking new study suggests we’ve been missing the bigger picture—and the reality is more troubling than the headlines suggest.
The American Job Quality Study (AJQS), a collaboration between Jobs for the Future, The Families & Workers Fund, W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, and Gallup, surveyed more than 18,000 workers across the country. The findings paint a stark picture: only four in 10 U.S. workers have jobs that meet basic standards of quality.
What Makes a “Quality Job”?
The study defines a quality job as one that meets minimum thresholds in at least three of five critical dimensions:
- Financial well-being – earning enough to live comfortably
- Workplace culture and safety – feeling respected and secure
- Growth and development opportunities – access to training and advancement
- Agency and voice – having input on decisions that affect your work
- Work structure and autonomy – control over how and when you work
These aren’t luxuries. They’re the fundamentals that research shows drive both employee satisfaction and business success.
The Numbers Tell a Troubling Story
The study’s findings reveal deep inequities and widespread challenges:
Financial Strain Is Real
Nearly three in 10 employees say they’re “just getting by” or “finding it difficult to get by.” Another 43% are merely “doing okay.” Only 27% report living comfortably. Perhaps most striking: half of all employees earn at or below 300% of the federal poverty line for a family of two.
The Quality Gap Isn’t Equal
Access to quality jobs varies dramatically across demographics and geography. Men are significantly more likely than women to hold quality jobs (45% vs. 34%). Regional differences are notable too—44% of workers in the West have quality jobs, compared to just 36% in the Midwest.
Interestingly, non-W-2 workers—independent contractors, self-employed individuals, and informal workers—fare slightly better than traditional employees, with 46% in quality jobs compared to 39% of W-2 employees.
Respect Without Voice
While 83% of workers feel respected by colleagues and customers, there’s a disconnect when it comes to having a say in their work lives. Nearly seven in 10 employees believe they have less influence than they should over their pay and benefits. More than half want more input on technology adoption, and nearly half feel they lack sufficient say over their working conditions.
Schedule Instability Creates Stress
Most workers (71%) report having autonomy over how they do their work. But more than half lack control over whenthey work, dealing with unpredictable and unstable schedules—a major driver of stress and disengagement.
Training Gaps Persist
Only about half of employees participated in on-the-job training or education programs in the past year. Those with more formal education and those at larger organizations are most likely to receive development opportunities, widening the gap for workers who might benefit most.
Why This Matters—For Everyone
“Traditional labor statistics track how many people are employed and what they earn—but they don’t capture the aspects of work that drive employee and business success,” said Maria Flynn, President and CEO of Jobs for the Future.
The consequences of low job quality ripple outward. Workers in quality jobs report dramatically higher job satisfaction (58% vs. 23% for those in lower-quality jobs), better health, and greater overall life satisfaction. For businesses, this translates to lower turnover, higher productivity, and stronger performance.
“Companies that invest in quality jobs tend to experience increased employee retention, productivity, and innovation,” noted Rachel Korberg, Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Families and Workers Fund.
A New Way to Measure What Matters
Former U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner Erica Groshen, now a Research Fellow at the Upjohn Institute, emphasized the importance of looking beyond traditional metrics: “The gap between what labor market data tells us and what workers are experiencing has only become clearer in recent years. The American Job Quality Study represents an effort to close that gap.”
Stephanie Marken, Senior Partner at Gallup, put it simply: “Counting jobs is no longer enough. Workers in quality jobs aren’t just more satisfied, they’re also healthier, more engaged, and more productive. Improving job quality isn’t only the right thing for workers; it’s a smart investment in stronger businesses and a more resilient economy.”
What Comes Next
The study’s data set and methodology are now publicly available, offering researchers, policymakers, and business leaders a new tool to understand and improve working conditions across America.
For business leaders, the message is clear: job quality isn’t a nice-to-have—it’s a competitive advantage. For policymakers, the data provides a roadmap for targeted interventions that can strengthen communities and drive inclusive economic growth.
And for workers? This study validates what millions already know from experience: having a job isn’t the same as having a good job. The question now is whether we’re ready to do something about it.
The full findings from the American Job Quality Study are available at gallup.com/analytics/691241/american-job-quality-study.aspx.
SOURCE JFF
https://stmdailynews.com/%f0%9f%93%9c-who-created-blogging-a-look-back-at-the-birth-of-the-blog/
Feeding America is marking National Agriculture Day by recognizing farmers, ranchers, and producers as key partners in the fight against hunger.
In a March 24 press release, the organization said the agricultural community plays a vital role in helping food banks and pantries deliver fresh, nutritious food to families across the country. Feeding America noted that produce, dairy, and protein are among the most requested foods by neighbors facing hunger and make up half of all food distributed through its network.
The organization said that in 2025, its network worked with growers to rescue 971 million pounds of fresh produce, helping redirect surplus food to communities in need. Feeding America also pointed to federal nutrition and farm support programs, saying government purchases from U.S. growers provide more than 20% of the food distributed through its network.
Ami McReynolds, Feeding America’s chief advocacy and community partnerships officer, said supporting farmers is directly connected to helping families access healthy meals. The organization is also urging Congress to support additional farm aid and a Farm Bill that strengthens nutrition programs.
Feeding America said a recent poll found that 95% of voters view hunger as a nonpartisan issue, reinforcing support for collaborative solutions between agriculture, food banks, and policymakers.
Related Links
Source Links
The Bridge is a section of the STM Daily News Blog meant for diversity, offering real news stories about bona fide community efforts to perpetuate a greater good. The purpose of The Bridge is to connect the divides that separate us, fostering understanding and empathy among different groups. By highlighting positive initiatives and inspirational actions, The Bridge aims to create a sense of unity and shared purpose. This section brings to light stories of individuals and organizations working tirelessly to promote inclusivity, equality, and mutual respect. Through these narratives, readers are encouraged to appreciate the richness of diverse perspectives and to participate actively in building stronger, more cohesive communities.
https://stmdailynews.com/the-bridge
Author
Community
McDonald’s First Job Confessional Turns Career Stories Into Free Meal Opportunity
McDonald’s is launching First Job Confessional, a campaign inviting fans to share first job stories for a chance to receive a $15 gift card in select cities.
First Job Confessional
McDonald’s is putting first jobs in the spotlight with a new campaign that asks fans to share the real-world skills they gained early in their working lives. Launched on National Employee Appreciation Day, the brand’s First Job Confessional invites people to reflect on how those first roles helped shape their careers — and, in some cases, earn a free meal in the process.
The campaign is built around a simple idea: first jobs often teach lasting skills that deserve more recognition. Whether someone learned problem-solving while babysitting, communication during a lunch rush, or teamwork behind a counter, McDonald’s is framing those experiences as valuable career foundations. The company says those are the same kinds of skills employers continue to prioritize as workplace demands evolve.
How the First Job Confessional Works
In select cities, McDonald’s is setting up confessional booths designed to look like ordering kiosks. But instead of placing a meal order, participants can record a story about their first job and the skills they picked up along the way. Those who take part in person will have the opportunity to receive a $15 McDonald’s gift card, while supplies last.
Fans who cannot attend in person can still join online by posting their stories using #FirstJobConfessional. McDonald’s says selected videos may also be featured on its YouTube channel, extending the campaign beyond the live events.
External Related Links
- McDonald’s corporate article: McDonald’s is Asking Fans to Get Real About Their First Job Skills in Exchange for Free Meals
- McDonald’s 1 in 8: First Job Confessional
- McDonald’s 1 in 8 home page
- Marketing Dive coverage of the campaign
- Parade coverage of the First Job Confessional tour
Source Links
- Original PRNewswire press release from McDonald’s USA, LLC
- McDonald’s official corporate story
- McDonald’s 1 in 8 First Job Confessional page
- McDonald’s 1 in 8 official website
The Bridge is a section of the STM Daily News Blog meant for diversity, offering real news stories about bona fide community efforts to perpetuate a greater good. The purpose of The Bridge is to connect the divides that separate us, fostering understanding and empathy among different groups. By highlighting positive initiatives and inspirational actions, The Bridge aims to create a sense of unity and shared purpose. This section brings to light stories of individuals and organizations working tirelessly to promote inclusivity, equality, and mutual respect. Through these narratives, readers are encouraged to appreciate the richness of diverse perspectives and to participate actively in building stronger, more cohesive communities.
https://stmdailynews.com/the-bridge
The Knowledge
Why Phoenix’s Skyline Has Stayed Low — And How It Compares to Los Angeles
Discover why Phoenix’s skyline lacks supertall skyscrapers, from FAA flight path limits near Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport to how it compares with Los Angeles’s skyline growth.
Last Updated on March 25, 2026 by Daily News Staff
Phoenix is the fifth-largest city in the United States, yet its skyline doesn’t resemble other major metros like Los Angeles, Chicago, or Dallas. Despite rapid population and economic growth, downtown Phoenix has long lacked supertall skyscrapers — and until recently, didn’t even have a building tall enough to qualify as a true “skyscraper” under standard definitions.
The Basics: Phoenix’s Height Reality
The tallest structure in Phoenix for decades has been Chase Tower, rising to about 483 feet. Under the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat definition, a skyscraper reaches at least 492 feet — which means Phoenix has technically lacked one — despite its size and population.
A new project, the Astra Tower, is planned to rise around 540+ feet when it breaks ground, potentially giving Phoenix its first true skyscraper.
Airport Proximity: The FAA’s Height Grid
FAA Obstacle Evaluation & Downtown Limits
Phoenix’s skyline constraints are rooted in aviation safety.
📍 Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport sits just a few miles from downtown.
- The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulates building heights near airports so they don’t obstruct flight paths, require planes to alter approaches, or interfere with climb-out safety.
- In Phoenix, this results in a layered set of height limits that vary by location and elevation above sea level — often measured in feet above mean sea level (MSL) rather than simply building height from ground.
The city’s zoning code divides downtown into multiple contour zones with distinct maximum elevation values (e.g., 1,275 ft, 1,525 ft, 1,700 ft MSL), each tied to how close it sits under airport flight paths.
That means in some blocks you can’t build above a specific elevation even if ground levels are lower — a regulatory “roof” that varies across downtown.
City zoning also explicitly states that no building can exceed the FAA’s airport height limits, even if other bonuses or zoning allowances exist.
Phoenix vs. Los Angeles: A Quick Comparison
Los Angeles: Higher Limits, Different Constraints
Cities like Los Angeles also have nearby airports (e.g., Los Angeles International Airport), but their key business districts aren’t directly under major flight corridors.
LA’s downtown has:
- Taller office and residential towers
- A financial core with dense development
- Fewer FAA-driven overlays because the flight paths stretch past the downtown edge
Los Angeles’s tallest buildings — including Wilshire Grand Center (~1,100 ft) and U.S. Bank Tower (~1,018 ft) — were built where FAA restrictions don’t force low ceilings. FAA evaluations were conducted but didn’t cut as deeply into downtown zoning compared to Phoenix.
Phoenix, by contrast, sits right under approach and departure corridors — leading to consistent FAA involvement in almost every proposed mid- or high-rise downtown.
Economic and Planning Philosophies
Beyond FAA rules:
- Phoenix developed in the automobile era, with vast inexpensive land encouraging horizontal growth.
- Los Angeles grew earlier with heavier investment in centralized neighborhoods and higher density.
- Phoenix’s village plan long encouraged multiple smaller hubs instead of concentrating all growth in one downtown core.
These historical differences mean Phoenix didn’t have the same economic “pressure” to build up — even with zoning that allows significant height if FAA permits are met.
What This Means for Phoenix’s Future
Phoenix still has room to grow vertically — but:
- FAA height contours will remain the ceiling unless flight paths change
- Developers must secure determinations of no hazard from the FAA before going taller
- New projects like Astra show demand for taller buildings is rising
As Phoenix’s urban core densifies and land becomes scarcer, its skyline may yet reach higher — but always within the invisible grid drawn by aviation safety.
Related External Links
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport Official Website
- FAA Obstruction Evaluation / Airport Airspace Analysis (OE/AAA)
- City of Phoenix Planning & Development Department
- Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH)
- Los Angeles World Airports (LAX Authority)
- Phoenix Skyscraper Database & Diagrams
- Los Angeles Skyscraper Database & Diagrams
Dive into “The Knowledge,” where curiosity meets clarity. This playlist, in collaboration with STMDailyNews.com, is designed for viewers who value historical accuracy and insightful learning. Our short videos, ranging from 30 seconds to a minute and a half, make complex subjects easy to grasp in no time. Covering everything from historical events to contemporary processes and entertainment, “The Knowledge” bridges the past with the present. In a world where information is abundant yet often misused, our series aims to guide you through the noise, preserving vital knowledge and truths that shape our lives today. Perfect for curious minds eager to discover the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of everything around us. Subscribe and join in as we explore the facts that matter. https://stmdailynews.com/the-knowledge/
