As most of the working public celebrates Columbus Day Monday, many Connecticut residents, especially those who work a combination of part-time jobs with few benefits will worry about making ends meet. According to a survey released last Thursday by the Permanent Commission on the Status of Women, 9 out of 10 residents cited making ends meet as one of the most important issues they face.
“Despite the fact that CT residents enjoy one of the highest per captia incomes in the country, we are very concerned about making ends meet,” the executive summary of the survey stated. Of the 700 residents surveyed 31 percent cited rising energy costs, 30 percent cited access to affordable housing, and 10 percent cited the cost of food, as their biggest concerns. These top three concerns comprise 71 percent of residents’ basic needs. About 86 percent of women and 67 percent of men rated money issues, such as having enough money to pay the bills, as high in importance. Of those surveyed one-third earned less than $50,000 a year and 28 percent had incomes between $50,000 to $100,000. About 4 out of 10 households had children under the age of 18. At least 56 percent of those surveyed worried about losing pay or their jobs if they are sick. Nine out of 10 women and men surveyed felt equal pay is an important work issue and one-third of both men and women cited sexual harassment as a problem or barrier for women at work. About one-third of both men and women felt pregnancy discrimination is a problem in the workplace. Nine in 10 cited making health care affordable as an important issue. While 86 percent of adults were concerned about access to decent child care. The survey was conducted by the University of Connecticut Center for Survey Research and Analysis. To read the full results of the survey click here.