Everest College Poll Reveals Chicago-Area Employees Daydream About Starting New Careers

CHICAGO, Jan. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- In a survey conducted by Everest College of more than 500 Chicagoland employees ages 18 to 35, 61 percent confess they daydream about starting a new career. And, although currently employed, 58 percent of respondents admitted they would actually change jobs if nothing stood in their way.

"We were surprised by the large number of people who think about pursuing a new career," said Jeff Jarmes, president of Everest College Chicago, one of six campuses in the Chicagoland area. "This finding underscores the importance that survey participants place on job satisfaction."

By far the highest number of respondents – 59 percent – indicated that the main obstacle to making a career change is the fact that they believe there are fewer jobs available during a recession. "In fact, jobs are available for skilled professionals in such high-demand occupations as healthcare, accounting, electrical work and other areas," Jarmes said. "Everest programs focus on these high-demand occupations and in 2008, despite a tough job market, 78 percent of our graduates nationwide secured jobs in their fields of study."

The survey also asked employees what barriers exist to their happiness on the job. Almost three-quarters (74 percent) cited low salaries; nearly half (48 percent) said their job was not fulfilling; and one-third (36 percent) reported not receiving recognition for their efforts.

"While money is a perennial concern for employees," said Jarmes, "fulfillment is also an important part of overall job satisfaction. Our goal at Everest is to train individuals in high-demand areas that pay well and are more rewarding."

Other results of the survey:

• Nearly one-half of respondents (47 percent) feel more stress on the job in the last year.
• Fifty-six percent claim they are working harder in the last year.
• One-third (32 percent) report having less job security compared to one year ago.
• Despite concerns about salaries, stress and job security, 74 percent do care about the business success of their employer.

The Everest College poll results are based on responses of 509 adults, ages 18-35, employed full-time and living in the greater Chicago metropolitan statistic area. The online survey was conducted in November.

About Everest College

Everest College provides career-oriented diploma and degree programs in healthcare, criminal justice, skilled trades, business and paralegal. Everest has six Chicago-area campuses located in Burr Ridge, Chicago, Merrionette Park, North Aurora, Skokie and Merrillville, Ind.  Everest has 100 schools in the U.S. and Canada, and is owned by Corinthian Colleges, Inc., one of the largest post-secondary education companies in North America. For more information, visit www.everest.edu.

SOURCE Everest College

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