Only 7% Think Government Employees Work Harder Than Those in Private Sector
Adults nationwide continue to believe government workers have it easier than those in the private sector.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of American Adults shows that 70% believe workers in the private sector work harder than government workers. Just seven percent (7%) believe government employees work harder, but 23% more are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
Those numbers have changed little in surveys dating back to December 2009.
Even 44% of government workers say private sector employees work harder than they do, and another 39% are not sure. Most employees of private companies (80%) say those in the private sector work harder.
Fifty-six percent (56%) of all Americans believe the average government worker earns more annually than the average private sector worker. That’s down slightly from past surveys: 61% felt that way a year ago. Twenty-two percent (22%) now disagree with this assessment, while the same number (22%) are undecided.
Two-thirds (66%) of those who work for private companies think government workers on average make more than they do. Thirty-three percent (33%) of government employees agree.
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The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on March 25-26, 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.
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