Copyright 2006 Chattanooga Publishing Company
Chattanooga Times Free Press (Tennessee)


May 28, 2006 Sunday


Residents rate local job scene as poor, survey finds

More than three-fourths of Hamilton County residents say availability of jobs that pay a living wage is very important to their quality of life in the Chattanooga area, but most residents say the availability and quality of jobs is either fair or poor.

The Community Research Council, a Chattanooga-based nonprofit policy and research agency, reported the findings Thursday as part of its State of Chattanooga Region Report. The agency surveyed 1,000 county residents last April. The full report will be released later this year.

More than half of black respondents had a significantly more negative perception on the employment situation in the county, compared to just under a quarter of white respondents.

Women were also somewhat more negative than men in their view of the employment situation in the Chattanooga area, and individuals with higher education were more likely to rate the employment situation as excellent or good and less likely to rate it as poor.

The findings can be viewed on the Internet at www .researchcouncil.net.