May 14, 2026
When people talk about job quality, pay tends to dominate the conversation. But wages and other forms of compensation are only one part of what makes a job good or bad. Workers also value job security, manageable schedules, a safe working environment, healthy relationships with supervisors and colleagues, opportunities for growth and skills development, and a voice on workplace issues.
The American Job Quality Study (AJQS)—a multiyear collaboration among Jobs for the Future, the Families & Workers Fund, the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, and Gallup—was created to address these gaps. To capture a more complete picture of job quality in the United States, the AJQS surveyed more than 18,000 U.S. workers about key aspects of their work. Findings based on these data will help policymakers, employers, and worker advocates better understand who has quality jobs, who does not, and where gaps remain.
The survey questionnaire was developed with extensive input from an interdisciplinary team of experts on job quality. Upjohn senior economist Susan Houseman led the research team, and research fellow Beth Truesdale led the qualitative arm of the study.
The AJQS measures five dimensions of job quality:
- Compensation and job security: Pay and benefits that meet basic needs, as well as stable employment.
- Work structure and autonomy: A predictable, stable work schedule and a sense of control over how work gets done.
- Work environment: A supportive environment where workers are physically safe, respected, and free from discrimination or harassment.
- Worker agency and voice: The ability to influence working conditions and shape decisions that affect the job.
Growth and development: A clear path to build skills, gain experience, and advance in a career.
The first wave of the survey was fielded in early 2025, a second wave in 2026, and a third is planned for 2027. The AJQS is a panel survey: respondents are re-surveyed each year, providing a view of how their job quality may change over time.
The AJQS data are publicly available and new research based on the AJQS is already shaping the picture of job quality in the United States.
Experts
