Township Survey on Client Employment/ Unemployment

Perry Township has been surveying its clients since 2012 over their employment status and the reasons why clients leave employment. In data processed from April 2014 to April 2016, the survey results offer multiple reasons why unemployed clients left their most recent jobs:

• Poor health
• Childcare and family care issues
• Lack of transportation
• Lay-offs
• Seasonal or temporary work
• The client was fired
• Scheduling conflicts (often when the employer offers too many or too few hours)
• Attendance issues
• Moving away from a job
• Hostile work environments

Some clients have singular reasons they left their last employment that are unique to their situation, and still others report that they have never worked, but the majority of unemployed individuals report reasons falling into these categories. These are self-reported results, and while the survey is anonymous it may not reflect the actual situation that caused a person to become unemployed (for instance, a client reporting "laid-off" when in fact they were fired). The results of the survey are illustrated below. Tap or click any of the charts below to enlarge them.

The survey was originally given to every adult who was applying for assistance with the Township Emergency Assistance Program who was not already receiving income through Social Security for a disability or retirement. However, more recently, the survey (which is a one page, 5-question paper) was mainly given out to clients who already reported verbally to staff that they were not employed or on Social Security. The breakdown between employed versus unemployed survey respondents therefore may not be a 100% accurate reflection of Township client employment statuses.

The surveys were conducted by the Perry Township Case Investigator staff and the data was compiled by Branden Surigao. This is the first study of its kind done by the Township.