Outlook on offshoring

Most U.S. workers agree that offshoring is bad for the U.S. economy, but surprisingly few are concerned that their own jobs are at risk of being sent overseas. Those are the results of a recent survey from human capital consulting firm Watson Wyatt.

Of the 1,200 U.S. workers polled, only 8% overall said they are concerned “to a great or very great extent” that their jobs are at risk. Another 22% of respondents said they are worried “to some extent or to a small extent”, while 69% have no concern at all.

“Although American workers, in general, are very concerned about the impact of offshoring on the economy, they apparently have little concern outsourcing will affect them personally,” says Bruce Pfau, national practice director for organization effectiveness at Watson Wyatt. “Nevertheless, the degree of this confidence seems to vary somewhat by employee job role.”

In particular, professional and technical employees in non-supervisory roles are most worried about the threat of outsourcing. Among that group, 13% are greatly concerned about their own jobs heading offshore, 22% somewhat concerned, and the remaining 57% are not at all worried.

Among the various job roles represented in the survey, senior managers and supervisors are least concerned about cost cutting through offshore outsourcing. Only 7% of those who hold these positions are strongly concerned about their jobs going overseas, 15% are concerned to a small extent and 77% are not concerned at all.

For the survey respondents’ sake, let’s hope their fears are unjustified.