American workers believe that corporate "outsourcing" of jobs, the abundance of imports, and immigration are the top threats to their livelihood, according to a new report.

The Pew Research Center found that an overwhelming 80 percent of adults believe that the increased outsourcing of jobs to other countries "hurts American workers."



Some 77 percent said foreign imports are killing jobs too, as are the death of unions and companies looking to contract workers instead of full-timers.

And 45 percent said immigration is the biggest threat to their jobs.

The Pew report, issued in association with the Markle Foundation, found that jobs in America are changing fast, with many requiring more a more educated workforce. As a result, Americans are shifting and agree that they need more schooling.

"Tectonic changes are reshaping U.S. workplaces as the economy moves deeper into the knowledge-focused age," said Pew.

The concerns about outsourcing, immigrants and foreign imports, has led a majority of Americans to say that they feel their jobs is less secure.

Key highlights from the Pew release:

— Americans see outsourcing jobs and imports of foreign goods as the greatest harms to U.S. workers, but they believe exporting more U.S. products abroad helps U.S. workers. As they assess the factors that may be hurting U.S. workers, 80% say outsourcing hurts American workers, and 77% say the same about more foreign-made products being sold in the U.S. Many also cite the increased use of contract and temporary workers (57%) and the decline of union membership (49%) as harmful factors. The impact of immigrants and automation draw more evenly divided verdicts. On the other end of the spectrum, majorities think exports of U.S.-made products (68%) and work-enhancing technology such as the internet and email (70%) help U.S. workers.

— Americans are less worried about immigrants' impact on jobs than they were a decade ago. Today, 45% of adults say that the growing number of immigrants working in the U.S. hurts workers, and 42% say having more immigrants helps workers. This is a noteworthy change from 2006, when there was a nearly two-to-one view that the growing number of immigrants hurts U.S. workers (55% vs. 28% who said immigrants help workers). Democrats, blacks and those with less than a high school diploma are all notably more likely now than in 2006 to think the growing number of immigrants helps workers.

— The shifting demand for skills in the modern workplace may be working to the benefit of women. Women, who represent 47% of the overall workforce, make up the majority of workers in jobs where social or analytical skills are relatively more important. Wages are rising much faster in those jobs, which has likely contributed to the shrinking of the gender pay gap from 1980 to 2015.

— People have been staying at their jobs longer in recent years. In 2014, about half of workers (51%) had worked for their current employer five years or more, compared with 46% of workers in 1996.

— Educational attainment is a clear and consistent marker when it comes to feelings about job security and future prospects. While 39% of those without a high school education say it is very or fairly likely they may be laid off in the next 12 months, only 7% of those with a bachelor's degree or more say the same. Those with lower levels of education also are more likely to feel their current skills are insufficient for career advancement and to think there are not good jobs locally.

— Americans have somewhat mixed attitudes about the effectiveness of traditional higher education institutions. While many college graduates describe their own experience as having a positive impact on their personal and professional development, just 16% of all Americans think that a four-year degree prepares students "very well" for a well-paying job in today's economy. An additional 51% say this type of degree prepares students "somewhat well" for the workplace.

Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner's "Washington Secrets" columnist, can be contacted at pbedard@washingtonexaminer.com