Employment in North Carolina -- Our Failure to Help Ourselves

The 404 respondents were asked about their employment situation. Basically, they were asked whether they were working at the same job as two years ago; whether they had been employed two years ago and were now unemployed; whether they had become employed in the last two years; or whether they had switched jobs. If they had switched jobs, we wanted to know whether they were making more or less money.

16.7 percent of the respondents said they had become unemployed over the last two years, and 3.3 percent said they not only switched jobs, but were making less money. Add it up and we find 20 percent of those polled with an employment situation worse off than two years ago.

We also asked: "When shopping for clothes do you: 1- Always try to purchase items that are made in America rather even if they are more expensive; 2- Sometimes compare where items are made but usually buy the item that is better priced; 3- Do not pay attention to where the clothing is made and only shop brand and price."

37.9 percent said that they always try to buy American; 22.3 percent said that they check where an item is made, but usually buy based on price; and 39.9 percent said that they buy strictly on price. This means that almost two-thirds of the people in North Carolina buy clothing based on price.

We wonder what their answer would have been if we told them that such buying habits were likely to take away money from their fellow North Carolinians.