Job-seeking Americans report feeling underqualified for prospective jobs

This story version has been formatted as an on-air script for broadcast outlets. See the original research story here.

NEW RESEARCH SHOWS ONE IN FOUR AMERICANS LOOKING FOR WORK FEEL “UNDERQUALIFIED” FOR EMPLOYMENT TODAY.

THAT’S ACCORDING TO STUDY CONDUCTED BY ONEPOLL ON BEHALF OF ADECCO GROUP.

THEY SURVEYED 2,000 PEOPLE LOOKING FOR WORK AND FOUND 39% OF RESPONDENTS FEAR POTENTIAL EMPLOYERS WOULD ALSO FIND THEM SUBPAR.

HOWEVER, 18% FEAR THE OPPOSITE — THAT THEY’LL BE SEEN AS OVERQUALIFIED.

DESPITE THOSE CONCERNS, 39% ARE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THEIR JOB PROSPECTS IN THE NEXT YEAR.

IN FACT, 69% FEEL CONFIDENT THEIR SKILLS CAN BE USED IN ANY FUTURE JOB AND 58% BELIEVE THEY COULD APPLY THOSE SKILLS IN A DIFFERENT FIELD.

4 APPEALING TRAITS TO SEE FROM EMPLOYERS

• Dedicated time for learning new skills - 56%
• Education related to your specific role - 50%
• National certification in your field - 33%
• Mentorship - 32%

Survey methodology:

This random double-opt-in survey of 2,000 American job seekers, with 1,000 unemployed and 1,000 employed was commissioned by Adecco Group between October 4 and October 10, 2022. It was conducted by market research company OnePoll, whose team members are members of the Market Research Society and have corporate membership to the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR).