Government Stimulus and Freelance Opportunities to Blame for the Current Worker Shortage
Nearly half of voters polled (48%) blame government COVID-19 relief policies, including stimulus money and halts on evictions and foreclosures for the current worker shortage. The eviction and foreclosure moratorium expired in California in October 2021. Similarly, 45% cite remote work and freelance or gig economy job opportunities for the lack of workers.
“We are seeing Americans being frustrated with the worker shortage that has brought limited restaurant and store hours and closures, and what they consider to be poor service levels,” explained Probolsky Research president Adam Probolsky. “Democrats see these changes as a shift in how our economy works, while Republicans, and to a lesser degree, independent voters, blame government handouts and policies.”
Our multi-mode poll was conducted by telephone with live U.S.-based interviewers and online via email and text message invitations in English and Spanish among 900 California voters from January 29 – February 3, 2022. The sample was developed from the voter file compiled by the fifty-eight California elections officials. We matched the demographics of California voters.
Interviews were conducted with live U.S.-based interviewers by phone (17%) and online survey methods (83%). Phone participants were interviewed through landline (36%) and mobile (64%) calls. Online participants were invited by email (50%) and text message (50%) to access the survey by computer, tablet, or smart phone. Respondents in all modes chose their preferred language, English (85%) and Spanish (15%).
A survey of this size yields a margin of error of +/-3.3% and a 95% confidence level. This survey question was not sponsored by a third party, the results are being released for public interest.
Probolsky Research is a non-partisan Latina- and woman-owned research firm with corporate, election, government, and non-profit clients. The firm has offices in Newport Beach, San Francisco and Washington DC.
