A Demographic Survey and Comparison of Persons Seeking Employment Assistance Through the Job Service Network in the State of Iowa

The problem. The purpose of this study was to examine any changes in the characteristics of persons seeking new employment opportunities in the state of Iowa. The study included all persons who applied for job-referral assistance at a Job Service of Iowa office during the first quarter of the fiscal years 1970, 1975 and 1978 through 1982. Procedure. Data for the study were obtained from computerized records compiled by Job Service on all applicants during the above periods. The information was gathered by Job Service interviewers, on a standardized interview form, for each client at the time of application for services. Characteristics of age, race, sex, current work status and occupational preference were tabulated. Contingency tests were performed to deternine whether significant changes in the frequency of the variables had occurred during the period covered by the study. Findings. Six null hypotheses were tested for significance at the .01 level and all were rejected when significant changes were demonstrated in the proportion of: all male/ female applicants, (2) male/female applicants within all. nine occupational preference categories, (3) applicants who were employed full-time, part-time or unemployed within all nine of the occupational preference categories, (4) White, Black, Spanish-speaking, American Indian and "other" minority groups within eight of the nine occupational preference categories, (5) person's age: twenty-two or less, twenty-three to forty-four, forty-five to sixty-four and sixty-five and over within all nine occupational preference categories, and finally, (6) the total number of persons seeking assistance through Job Service. Conclusions. The study found that since 1970 there have been significant changes in the characteristics of Iowa job seekers, and that several trends which peaked toward the late 1970's began to decline by the early 1980's. The study concludes by suggesting interpretations which might be drawn from these findings.

Grantor dc:publisher

Drake University

Year dc:date.issued

1983

Author dc:creator

• Dixon, Dennis Richard

• Vocational guidance
• Career education
• Occupations and race
• Vocational guidance--Iowa
• Employment agencies--Iowa

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Dc Identifier Other

1983 .D643

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:escholarshare.drake.edu:2092/658