KRC Research

New Poll: Seattle Residents More Secure In Their Jobs Compared to a Year Ago

October 9, 2012

Third Annual 'State of Seattle' Survey Also Finds Civility and Traffic Issues Concern Locals

SEATTLE, Oct. 9, 2012 - According to a survey by public relations firm Weber Shandwick in partnership with KRC Research, the majority of local working residents feel very or somewhat secure with their current job situation or business with only a few reporting they are constantly concerned about losing employment. This is an eight percent jump in job security from a year ago. However, when asked about rating the state of the U.S. economy, more than half of Seattle residents feel the overall economy is weak, but believe it will be strong a year from now.

Weber Shandwick's third annual 'State of Seattle' survey conducted online interviews with 500 local residents to determine their perceptions of the city on a number of topics, including the economy, civility, culture and the media. Below are some of the key findings:

Economy

Among those employed, job security is high with 91 percent feeling at least somewhat secure about their current job situation. This is an 8 percent jump from a year ago when 83 percent felt the same way.
More than half (52 percent) of Seattle residents believe the state of the U.S. economy is weak, while 53 percent feel the economy will be stronger a year from now.

Civility

Many Seattle residents (71 percent) believe that the general tone and level of civility is a problem where they live, with 21 percent saying it is a major problem. By comparison, 63 percent of Americans say incivility is a major problem for the country today. Almost a third of residents feel the general tone and level of civility where they live will get worse during the next few years. Nationally, 55 percent think the general tone and level of civility in the country will get worse.
Two-thirds of Seattleites report having experienced incivility on the road, which is higher than the national average (Seattle: 68 percent vs. National: 60 percent).
Seven in 10 residents say men are more uncivil than women.

Culture

Forget what the rest of the country thinks - 72 percent of Seattleites are satisfied with the weather while 47 percent say transportation/traffic issues are the number one thing they would like to change about the city. Only 11 percent said they'd change the weather.
As in previous years, Seattle residents continue to describe Seattle as environmentally conscious (2012: 77 percent, 2011: 74 percent, 2010: 77 percent). However, 64 percent of those who are working or in school say they drive solo when commuting daily to work or school.
Seattle nice? Fewer residents describe Seattle as a 'friendly'city this year compared to last year (2012: 36 percent vs. 2011: 48 percent).
What's more important access to the arts or professional sports? 59 percent pick the arts.

Media

How do Seattle residents view the national media coverage of the presidential election? 46 percent say the general tone and level of civility is worse than prior elections, while 50 percent say it is about the same.
How has the local media covered Washington's race for governor? 79 percent say the tone and level of civility toward the candidates has been about the same as past election coverage.
Where do Seattleites get their news? 38 percent go online to newspapers, social media, blogs and magazine sites, 35 percent turn to television and 13 percent get their news from radio. Desktops and laptops are used most often (78 percent) for getting online news.

"Despite our own relative security in our jobs, the national economic narrative and upcoming presidential election are breeding a perception of incivility in our communities," said Tim Fry, general manager of Weber Shandwick Seattle. "Engaging Seattlites in the positive stories about the local economy, our approach to statewide politics, and our appreciation of the arts are just a few ways we can help decrease this perception of an uncivil city."

Methodology Note: Weber Shandwick partnered with KRC Research on the third annual ‘State of Seattle’ survey. The research was conducted online between September 10-14, 2012 with 500 adult residents ages 18 and over living in the Seattle DMA.

The 2012 ‘Civility in America’ online survey was conducted in April among 1,000 adults nationwide ages 18 and over to assess attitudes towards civility in politics and in other aspects of American life. For more information on this survey, go to: http://www.webershandwick.com/civility/.

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As a part of the world’s largest public relations firm, the Seattle office of Weber Shandwick represents local, national and global clients across multiple industries. Within the technology sector, the Seattle office specializes in clean technology, digital media & entertainment, and mobile/telecommunications/wireless markets. While the office’s heritage is technology, it is also deeply rooted in social impact work with nonprofit organizations and foundations and has successfully extended its purview to include clients in the health care, food/beverage, education and travel sectors.

About Weber Shandwick
Weber Shandwick is a leading global public relations firm with offices in 81 countries around the world. The firm has won numerous awards for innovative approaches and creative campaigns, and it has deep expertise in social media and digital marketing. Major practice areas include consumer marketing, healthcare, technology, public affairs, financial services, corporate and crisis management. Weber Shandwick is part of the Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG). For more information, visit http://www.webershandwick.com.

About KRC Research
KRC Research is a full-service market research firm that specializes in the kind of research needed for effective communications—communications that reach, engage and persuade. A unit of the Interpublic Group of Companies (NYSE: IPG), KRC Research offers the quality and custom service of a small firm along with the reach of a global organization. For over 30 years, KRC Research has worked on behalf of corporations, governments, not-for-profits and the communications firms that represent them. Staffed with market research professionals from the worlds of political campaigns, consumer marketing, journalism and academia, we are flexible, practical, creative, knowledgeable and fast, combining sophisticated research tools with real-world communications experience. For more information, visit www.krcresearch.com.