Recession's Toll Is Written in Cutbacks, Layoffs and Worry

INSECURITY: JOBS AND MORE

Some have more immediate worries. Among people who are currently employed, 21 percent -- one in five -- are worried about getting laid off -- nearly double what it was a year ago, and the most in polls dating back to 1975.

If they were to get laid off, moreover, nearly half, 47 percent, think it's unlikely they could find another job as good -- the most in polls back seven years. Of the rest, just 22 percent call it "very" likely they could get another job as good as the one they have now. That uncertainty peaks among older workers and people in union households.

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But insecurity extends beyond employment. Examples:

Fifty-three percent are concerned about being able to afford health care for themselves or a family member; a third are "very" worried. Concern jumps to 59 percent among women, compared with 46 percent of men. And it rises to 75 percent among lower-income Americans; a majority in this group is very worried.

Nearly four in 10 Americans, 36 percent, are concerned about being able to heat their homes this winter -- 28 percent of men, but 44 percent of women, and soaring to 68 percent of the lowest-income Americans.

Fifteen percent -- one in seven -- have fallen behind on rent or mortgage payments in the past year, nearly double what it was in the teeth of the 1990-91 recession. Looking ahead, many more -- nearly four in 10 (37 percent) -- are worried about being able to keep up with future rent or mortgage payments.

That concern is 10 points higher among women than men (42 vs. 32 percent), higher among younger adults (46 percent of those under age 40) and especially high among low-income Americans: Fifty-five percent of those with incomes under $35,000 are worried about keeping up with their basic housing costs.