If asked to choose between a job with higher pay and one with more security, most employed adults would pick the latter. Among younger workers, 56% say they prefer job security over higher pay (41%). Older workers prefer more job security to higher pay by an even greater margin (59% to 34%).

The youngest workers (ages 18 to 24) are roughly split between preferring higher pay (51%) or better job security (48%). This finding is a marked change from 2009, when this group’s preferences mirrored those of older workers — 61% preferred better job security to higher pay.

Among workers age 25 and older, the balance of opinion leans towards better job security, though a sizable minority say they would opt for higher pay. Read More

Russell Heimlich  is a former web developer at Pew Research Center.