U.S. Workers Fear Losing Their Jobs, Poll Finds.

Byline: Kathleen Lynn

Apr. 22--Eighteen percent of American workers have experienced at least one layoff since 2001, according to a new survey by Rutgers University.

And despite signs of economic recovery, American workers remain worried about their job security, the "Work Trends" poll found.

"There's still a lot of anxiety out there," said Carl Van Horn, executive director of the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers, which conducted the poll with the help of the Center for Survey Research and Analysis at the University of Connecticut.

The survey of 1,007 members of the American workforce took place mostly in February. Although the job statistics have improved since then, with the national economy adding 308,000 jobs in March, Van Horn said the response would probably be similar if the poll were taken today.

"The average American does not focus that much on job numbers," Van Horn said. "What they know is what's happening to them, to their family members, to people in their communities, and the firms where they work."

And what has happened has been enough to shake many people's confidence. Even after the eight-month recession ended in November 2001, the economy continued to lose into 2003. Despite recent job gains, the total number of jobs in America remains almost 2 million below the peak of 132.5 million, reached in March 2001.