Survey shows lack of good jobs, child care as concerns

Jun. 10--While outside factors may have limited the number of available respondents, a survey commissioned by the Jacksonville Commission on Disabilities and Human Relations found that a lack of jobs with benefits, affordable child care and career opportunities for the disabled were key concerns of those surveyed.

The commission is required to put together the survey every three years to determine the needs of Jacksonville residents and to present their findings to the city. It was conducted through MacMurray College's social work department under associate professor Joe Squillace.

Commission Chair Alan Bradish said conducting this year's survey proved difficult because both the COVID-19 pandemic and the announced closing of MacMurray College had an impact on the survey.

Around 120 people responded to the survey, though Bradish said he wished there had been a more racially and economically diverse sample size.

Of those surveyed, the disabled population had serious concerns on several fronts at a higher rate than the non-disabled population. At a higher rate than non-disabled respondents, disabled respondents said the availability -- or lack thereof -- of full-time jobs, lack of jobs with benefits, income that doesn't cover the cost of living and a lack of affordable elderly living service were areas of "serious concern."

Of disabled people surveyed, 27% said the lack of full-time jobs was a serious concern, 42% said the lack of jobs with benefits was, 46% said income or wages that fail to cover cost of living was a serious concern, and 31% said a lack of affordable elderly living assistance was.

Nearly one-fourth of the disabled population said grocery costs and access to food pantries were barriers.

Close to half of 18- to 24-year-olds surveyed -- 42% -- said they were concerned about the lack of jobs with benefits. The survey summary notes that the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic could have inflated this result.

Nearly one-third of the 24- to 54-year-old age group and 28% of the 55-or-older age group marked lack of jobs with benefits as a concern. The same percentage of the 18- to 24-year-old age group identified affordable child care as a serious concern. A third of this group also said the inability to afford Wi-Fi or internet in their house was an obstacle.

A quarter of the 24- to 54-year-old age group said not having a college degree was an obstacle.

Between one-quarter and one-third of all age groups were seriously concerned about income or wages not covering their cost of living.

A majority of men -- 59% -- indicated affordable child care as something that does not apply to them. The summary noted that more of the male respondents may be single or may not be as likely as women to seek child care. A quarter of the women surveyed listed affordable housing as a serious concern in the community while only 5% of men did. More women than men-- by a margin of 28% to 9% -- also listed access to specialty health care as a serious concern.

When broken down by housing situations, renters were the group most likely to worry about employment and child care issues. Housing and Urban Development renters were concerned about trying to obtain a college degree while having a criminal record and expressed a need for education, job training and access to nutritious foods.

Participants with only a high school degree also had employment and training concerns -- as well as concerns about the cost of groceries -- at a higher rate than other education groups.

A question about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic indicated that the deaf community is limited in resources and transitioning to online learning has been tough -- especially for disabled students. The pandemic's negative effect on mental health was the most recurring complaint.

For Morgan County and Jacksonville, respondents said lack of mental health services, a digital divide with the elderly population, lack of affordable transportation services and low awareness of available services and resources were common concerns.

The commission will present the survey results at an upcoming Jacksonville City Council meeting and it will be up to the council to evaluate what provisions the city now provides and what adjustments could be made, Bradish said.

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