Work and Desire for Control Over Where, When They Work
Workers are making gains in overall career success yet continue to crave independence, third annual research study from Connie Steele shows
March 22, 2023 07:37 ET
Connie Steele, Future of Work & Life Expert
WASHINGTON, March  22, 2023  (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- American workers report feeling more successful this year than last, but despite these gains, they’re fiercely protective of the independence they became accustomed to during the pandemic. Seventy-five percent of workers say it’s important to set boundaries with work so that it doesn’t interfere with their personal lives, and 66% believe that work should accommodate the way they want to live their lives. These findings and more are part of the third annual State of Work & Career Success study , which was developed to understand the changing mindset, attitudes, and behaviors of workers in the U.S. The State of Work and Career Success study is led by Connie Steele, Principal of Flywheel Associates, and conducted by Rockbridge Associates. Among the highlights of this year’s study are:
More than half of workers in the survey (51%) report being satisfied with their career progress, up from 45% a year ago
64% say they work best when they can work anywhere they want
62% say they work best when they can work when they want
65% agree that aligning personal values with an organization’s values is important
62% feel work and life are integrated, and this sentiment goes up to almost 70% among those in their 20s and 30s
More successful workers perceive the companies they work at as being more innovative in the marketplace
“For this year’s study, we wanted to look past all the attention-grabbing headlines around trends like quiet quitting to get a feel for how American workers are truly faring,” said Connie Steele. “While workers are trending in the right direction in general, companies still have a lot of work to do to provide team members the support and flexibility they need to succeed.”
The research takes the pulse of what the American workforce wants and needs out of their profession, as well as the key drivers of success. Planning (34%) continues to play an outsized role when it comes to determining career success, followed by culture (18%), experience (15%), education (13%), skills (12%), and staying current (8%). “Despite the gains workers have made in the last year, there are a few clear opportunities where they should focus to improve in 2023,” said Gina Woodall, President of Rockbridge Associates. “Collectively, top priorities in 2023 should be for workers to focus on aspects of planning, like getting a mentor and building a network, as well as getting formal education to advance and participating in industry events. The latter two activities are important to career satisfaction but workers are less successful with them.”
The study explores the relationship between career and life success as well as the relationship with an organization’s outcomes, particularly around employee engagement. Being successful in one’s career, as defined by how satisfied workers are with the progress they are making, leads to a greater likelihood of achieving their career and life goals. It also yields positive business outcomes for the organizations where they are employed. Learn more about the 2023 study and its findings at whatworkerswant.com . About the Study & Methodology
The 2023 State of Work and Career Success study provides findings on what the American workforce wants and needs out of their professional life, as well as the drivers of success. The study dives into the connection between career goals and life goals, and the relationship between individual success and organizational success. The study surveyed more than 2000 workers aged 18-69 who were working full-time, part-time, freelance, or as a business owner in a range of industries from Nov. 29 - Dec. 20, 2022. This year’s study builds on the research conducted for the first two State of Work and Career Success studies. You can learn more about the 2021 and 2022 studies and download related materials to each of the three studies here . About Connie Steele
Connie Steele is a Future of Work & Life expert who helps individuals and corporations get unstuck in today’s society, showing them how to confidently move forward in accomplishing their goals. She’s the Principal and Co-founder of the management consultancy Flywheel Associates and author of the book Building the Business of You: A System to Align Passion and Growth Potential through Your Own Career Mashup. Connie and team assess and measure what it takes to be successful in this new world of work and life and the implications to individuals and organizations alike. Learn more about Connie at www.ConnieWSteele.com . About Rockbridge Associates
Rockbridge is a strategic marketing research firm providing research and consulting to companies in the services and technology sectors. They have studied workforce trends, including the rise of the gig economy, for over a decade as demographic, technological, and societal effects have changed how and why Americans work. Rockbridge guides clients on strategic areas including customer loyalty, share-of-wallet, segmentation, branding, and product development. The firm is the creator of the American Innovation Index, an award-winning initiative that tracks the innovativeness of U.S. companies based on the experiences of their customers. Learn more at www.rockresearch.com . Media Contact: Connie Steele

New Study Highlights Workers’ Shifting Relationship With Work and Desire for Control Over Where, When They Work

Despite improvements in overall job performance, workers still yearn for independence, according to Connie Steele ‘s third annual research report. American employees say they feel more successful this year than they did last, yet they are passionately protective of the independence they were accustomed to during the epidemic. Sixty-six percent of employees think that work should allow them to live their lives as they choose, and 75 percent of workers feel it’s vital to create boundaries so that work doesn’t interfere with their personal lives. The third annual State of Work & Career Success research was created to comprehend how American employees’ mindsets, attitudes, and actions are evolving. It includes these conclusions as well as other information. Connie Steele, Principal of Flywheel Associates, is in charge of the State of Work and Career Success research, which is carried out by Rockbridge Associates. Among the study’s highlights, this year are:
64% of respondents believe they work best when they can work wherever they choose, up from 45% a year earlier. More than half of respondents (51%) report being happy with their professional growth. 62% of respondents claim that they do their best work during times when they can work whenever they choose. 62% of people feel that work and life are interwoven, and this feeling rises to almost 70% among those in their 20s and 30s. 65% of people think that it’s crucial to match personal ideals with an organization’s principles. Successful employees believe their employers are more creative in the marketplace. “For this year’s study, we wanted to look past all the attention-grabbing headlines around trends like quiet quitting to get a feel for how American workers are truly faring,” said Connie Steele. “While workers are trending in the right direction in general, companies still have a lot of work to do to provide team members the support and flexibility they need to succeed.”
The study measures the major success factors as well as what the American worker values and requires from their career. When it comes to predicting professional success, planning (34%) continues to have a disproportionately large impact, followed by culture (18%), experience (15%), education (13%), skills (12%), and remaining current (8%). “Despite the gains workers have made in the last year, there are a few clear opportunities where they should focus to improve in 2023,” said Gina Woodall , President of Rockbridge Associates. “Collectively, top priorities in 2023 should be for workers to focus on aspects of planning, like getting a mentor and building a network, as well as getting formal education to advance and participating in industry events. The latter two activities are important to career satisfaction, but workers are less successful with them.”
The study investigates the connection between professional and personal achievement as well as that with organizational outcomes, particularly in regard to employee engagement. The possibility of reaching one’s job and life goals increases with career success, which is measured by how content people are with the development they are making. Also, it produces advantageous commercial results for the companies where they work.

Employees’ Changing Connection With Work and Demand for Control

Assessment is based on data from the annual State of Work and Career Success study
March 09, 2023 08:00 ET
Connie Steele, Future of Work & Life Expert
WASHINGTON, March  09, 2023  (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Workers who are unsure of where their professional strengths lie can now use a new personal development tool to see where they stand relative to their peers -- and identify areas for improvement. The Work and Career Success Assessment , released today by Connie Steele, draws on her annual State of Work and Career Success survey. The survey focuses on what American workers seek out of work and life and found that there are six key drivers of success in the workplace. Connie Steele developed the tool and, in partnership with Rockbridge Associates, conducts the annual research study that underpins it. At the end of the assessment, in addition to a numerical score, workers receive personalized recommendations based on the key areas where they need the most improvement. “So many Americans today are re-evaluating their relationship with work,” said Steele. “Our assessment is a great way to see where your strengths lie professionally and where you have opportunities for improvement. Whether you score high or low on the assessment is ultimately secondary. The main thing I want people to take away is a deeper understanding of the levers of success when it comes to their career and where they should place their focus.”
Any individuals interested in taking the survey can do so for free here: https://www.conniewsteele.com/assessment . Respondents will receive an aggregate overall score as well as their score in six key categories: Planning, Culture, Skills, Experience, Education, and Staying Current. Being successful in one’s career, as defined by how satisfied workers are with the progress they are making, leads to a greater likelihood of achieving their career and life goals. It also yields positive business outcomes for the organizations where they are employed. However, only about one fourth (29%) of American workers consider themselves to be successful, and the average score for workers in the study was a low C (70.1/100). “While the average score may sound low, you have to consider it through the lens of the volatility we’re living through,” said Gina Woodall, President of Rockbridge Associates. “Workers are increasingly looking for more out of both work and life, and we’re excited to provide them with an assessment that can help put them on a path to greater success.”
About the Study & Methodology
The 2022 State of Work and Career Success study provides findings on what the American workforce wants and needs out of their professional life, as well as the drivers of success. The study dives into the connection between career goals and life goals, and the relationship between individual success and organizational success. It also explores the relationship between career and life success as well as the overall impact successful workers have on their company’s business outcomes. The study surveyed more than 1000 workers aged 18-64 who were working full-time, part-time, freelance, or as a business owner in a range of industries from Nov. 30 - Dec. 13, 2021. The 2022 study builds on the research conducted for the first annual State of Work and Career Success study. You can learn more about the 2022 study and sign up to receive the 2023 study overview when it’s released later this month . About Connie Steele
Connie Steele is a Future of Work & Life expert who helps individuals and corporations get unstuck in today’s society, showing them how to confidently move forward in accomplishing their goals. She’s Principal and Co-founder of the management consultancy Flywheel Associates, author of the book Building the Business of You: A System to Align Passion and Growth Potential through Your Own Career Mashup, and host of the Strategic Momentum podcast. Learn more about Connie and how she helps individuals and organizations at www.ConnieWSteele.com . About Rockbridge Associates
Rockbridge is a strategic marketing research firm providing research and consulting to companies in the services and technology sectors. They have studied workforce trends, including the rise of the gig economy, for over a decade as demographic, technological, and societal effects have changed how and why Americans work. Rockbridge guides clients on strategic areas including customer loyalty, share-of-wallet, segmentation, branding, and product development. The firm is the creator of the American Innovation Index, an award-winning initiative that tracks the innovativeness of US companies based on the experiences of their customers. www.rockresearch.com
Connie Steele

New Assessment Helps American Workers Measure Career Progress, Plan for Growth

State and Work Career Success Study
Newly published research from Connie Steele outlines the 6 faces of the American workforce, along with their motivators and desires
December 07, 2022 06:00 ET
Connie Steele, Future of Work & Life Expert
WASHINGTON, Dec.  07, 2022  (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- New research around the American workforce provides a detailed look at the 6 prevailing archetypes based on where they feel they are in their work and career. These findings highlight who is struggling, who is succeeding, and what they value, and they are outlined in the 2022 State of Work and Career Success brief named What Workers Want: The 6 Faces of the American Worker . The segmentation analysis uncovered the following six worker profiles:
Entrepreneurial Planners (39% of the workforce) are successful, forward-thinking workers who strive to get the most out of their careers. They are strong at career planning activities but they also expect their employers to prepare them for career growth. Entrepreneurship is a goal for many of them. Career Pivoters (18% of the workforce) are less satisfied workers who are actively searching for a career that has meaning for them. They are unhappy with their work culture and struggling to get promoted to the job they want. Highly Skilled & Collaborative (13% of the workforce) workers are ambitious and goal-oriented, with a drive for learning and working together. They are eager to advance and prioritize skill development both in and outside of their job. Social Impact Communicators (13% of the workforce) are driven by their personal values and strive to create an impact in their work and career. They’ve been more successful with using their technical skills to perform meaningful work. Flexible Contributors (9% of the workforce) are independent thinkers with a desire for meaningful work. They value flexibility when it comes to working when and where they want. Lost and Struggling (8% of the workforce) are dispirited workers who feel stuck and need more experience and company support. They’ve been unsuccessful at mapping out their career plan given their lack of support from a career sponsor or mentor that advocates for them. The study was produced by Connie Steele, Principal of Flywheel Associates, in partnership with Rockbridge Associates. “Now more than ever, it’s imperative for companies to understand the voice of the workforce just like they do for their customers,” Connie said. “As current and potential customers aren’t all the same, neither is talent. What motivates and moves them will inevitably be different based on who they are, what they believe, and where they want to be. Garnering that fundamental understanding will help foster a stronger relationship in the end between employers and the people who work for them.”
Findings from the study provides insights to help business leaders and HR professionals work towards bridging the employee experience gap that commonly exists. With people being a company’s greatest asset, learning how their work and career perspectives and goals relate to employee engagement and retention can ultimately guide the development of programs, processes and environments that optimize worker and company performance. About the State of Work & Career Success Study
The State of Work and Career Success study is an annual study that provides findings on what the U.S. workforce wants and needs out of their professional life, as well as the drivers of success. The study dives into the relationship between professional success and personal success to help workers and companies alike gain a clear picture of how to reach a fulfilling life that integrates the personal and professional. The study was conducted by surveying more than 1000 workers aged 18-64 in a range of industries from Nov. 30-Dec. 13, 2021. The latest study builds on the research conducted for the first annual State of Work and Career Success study. You can learn more about the 2022 study and download the summary report here . About the Research Brief Methodology
The data for this research brief was conducted by performing a segmentation analysis of the 1,007 survey respondents with the goal of classifying American workers into groups with distinctive attitudes and beliefs about their career and activities they are doing beyond those provided on the job. The analysis included factor and cluster analysis to identify groups of workers who think similarly about their career, as not all workers have the same mindset simply because of their demographics, such as age or gender. About Connie Steele
Connie Steele is a human-centered future of work strategist who helps individuals and corporations get unstuck in today’s society, showing them how to confidently move forward in accomplishing their goals. She’s the author of the book Building the Business of You: A System to Align Passion and Growth Potential through Your Own Career Mashup and the host of the Strategic Momentum podcast . Her writing or interviews have appeared in Forbes, Thrive Global, Authority Magazine, and many more. You can learn more about Connie’s work at www.ConnieWSteele.com . About Rockbridge Associates
Rockbridge Associates is an innovative market research firm that offers a suite of proven solutions designed to discover insights that drive business outcomes. Connie Steele

6 Prevailing Worker Archetypes Uncovered by Analysis of State and Work Career Success Study

While 50 percent of 500 Americans polled by Fordham University-Gabelli School of Business’s Responsible Business Coalition and Rockbridge Associates have “some level” of interest in using eco-labels to help guide their fashion purchase, only 13.1 percent reported that they were “very interested.” Of the remaining 50 percent that indicated they were less keen on such devices, 17.8 percent said they had “no interest at all.”
Enthusiasm for eco-labels, the study found, is mostly driven by younger, college-educated and employed consumers who live in urban settings. In contrast, older, high-school educated and unemployed consumers tended to show far less interest. The Balkanization of demographics should not be taken to mean that eco- labeling is unimportant to consumers, the report noted. Rather, it indicates that “distinct customer segments exist” regarding a desire for fashion eco-labeling. “It’s clear that there is a lot of potential for eco-labels in the pursuit of sustainable fashion,” said Lerzan Aksoy, managing director of the Responsible Business Coalition and the study’s author. “While older generations may not find them as influential or necessary as younger generations, millennials and Gen Z will represent over half of the world’s income within the next 10 years.“
Brands that wish to remain competitive and relevant will “need to prioritize transparency when it comes to social and environmental impact and clearly communicating their credentials to these consumers,” she added. A product’s carbon footprint , one of the key measures of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition’s Higg Materials Sustainability Index and the European Union’s P roduct Environmental Footprint , ranked only sixth in importance among those surveyed. Chief among the concerns of 45 percent of respondents was a garment’s recyclability, followed by human rights for 39 percent of them. Chemical use, animal welfare and material use were each deemed a priority by 33 percent of consumers. Regarding the eco-label’s physical appearance, 65 percent of consumers wanted to see one attached directly to the clothing item via a brand label, price tag or both. But although QR codes can quickly unlock a garment’s sustainability credentials, it was also the least desired vehicle because few of those surveyed (12 percent) said they used them with any regularity. “Given that QR codes are not a new technology and that there are numerous opportunities to use them in other scenarios, this may indicate difficulty getting fashion consumers to widely adopt them to access sustainability information,” Aksoy said. For online shopping, 44 percent of those polled said they preferred an eco-label to manifest as a sustainability icon on the website, as a website filter or both. Nearly one in four (24 percent) respondents also said that they would like a designated in-store or online area that spotlights sustainable products. Aksoy said she believes that fashion has the potential to be a powerful force for good in the world. Because the manufacture and sale of garments span an extensive supply and distribution chain, the industry “touches numerous areas of interest” to ESG-conscious consumers. “The fashion industry has made great strides in ensuring that its products are ethically manufactured and sustainable. For this to impact consumers’ purchasing decisions, however, they need to be able to know and compare alternatives based on their sustainability criteria,” Aksoy said. “As such, eco-labels are an important and viable mechanism for eco-conscious consumers to evaluate the sustainability of the garments that they consider purchasing.”
What about ‘label creep’? The study arrives after the American Apparel & Footwear Association urged Congress to approve legislation directing the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to allow consumers to receive mandated labeling information, such as care and fiber content, through digital means, including but not limited to QR codes. Such legislation would “modernize outdated federal regulations to the benefit of consumers,” according to the trade group, which represents frims such as Adidas, Gap Inc. and J.Crew. “Allowing for mandated information about a garment to be delivered through a digital label would improve accessibility, give consumers the regulatory information they need plus access to more information about the product and help the industry meet its sustainability goals,” president and CEO Steve Lamar wrote in a letter dated June 9 to Representative Frank Pallone, chair of the House Energy & Commerce Committee, Senator Maria Cantwell, chair of the Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee and others. A “proliferation” of garment-labeling requirements around the world has led to “label creep,” with “pages of labels in small text in multiple languages and with confusing symbols that are hard to read and uncomfortable,” Lamar said. The possibility of additional sustainability-related labeling requirements will “only make the current situation, where there is a profusion of labels, worse,” he added. “Replacing all of that with a digital label on the garment would mean consumers—who increasingly use the internet or their smartphones to interact with the things around them—will have a simple, convenient and easy way to access the required regulatory information,” Lamar said. “And they would also be able to access additional information they want about the product and how it was made.”
Consumers will also have ready access to the latest information about a garment— even if they’re its second or third owner—because the much smaller digital label is more likely to be left dangling than snipped off for comfort or convenience. Visually impaired consumers will “finally have access” to care and fiber content information because digital labeling will enable them to increase the font size of the labeling information, use text to voice or other digital assistance technologies, Lamar said. Meanwhile, companies will be able to “dramatically” reduce the use of label tape and ink. Today, federal and international regulations require the industry to produce label tape in “such copious quantities that the amount used each year could reach to the moon and back 12 times,” he added. “We fully believe the FTC has the power in current statute to allow for the use of digital labels on garments to deliver mandated information like care and content to consumers,” Lamar said. “Regrettably, the FTC has repeatedly told us it believes it does not have the authority to do so. As such, we urge Congress to approve legislation that would require the FTC to allow for the use of digital labels. The time to act is now. Even though consumers and the technology that enables this are in the 2020s, the regulatory regime that created these labeling requirements is still locked in the 1960s.”
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What Consumers Really Want to See on an Eco-Label

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