Researchers at the Cornell School of Industrial Labor Relations conduct the Empire State Poll to survey New York state residents about how work impacts their lives: Are they employed, do their wages meet their needs, how do costs of daily living impact their ability to work or the number of jobs they need to manage, do they feel like they can speak up at work, or are they part of a union? Most important— how do these issues together shape what concerns them most about their future? With over 2,500 residents surveyed across the entire state, this poll provides a window into New Yorkers’ daily lives, needs, and concerns related to labor and employment.
The latest report on the Empire State Poll highlights again the concern New Yorkers have over cost of living, with 68.3% of respondents saying that cost of living was the single most important issue facing their household.
Over 65% of Empire State Poll respondents said cost of living was the single most important issue facing their own households in the 2024 report.
