portland business alliance 2019 jobs and economy · economy and jobs dhm research | portland...

Portland Business Alliance2019 Jobs and Economy Survey

January 2019

Research Purpose

DHM RESEARCH | PORTLAND BUSINESS ALLIANCE 2019 JOBS AND ECONOMY | JANUARY 2019 2

Track voter perceptions over time and determine changes in opinions about the Portland region’s economy

Assess support for potential measures

Determine the most trusted sources of information about economic issues in the region

Methodology


Telephone survey of 510 likely voters in the Portland metro region, including an oversample of City of Portland voters (n=253)

Conducted January 9–14, 2019; 19 minutes to complete

Quotas set and data weighted by age, gender, and political party to ensure a representative sample

Margin of error ±4.3%

Due to rounding, some totals may differ by ±1 from the sum of separate responses.

Top Regional Concerns


Homelessness and affordable housing remain top-of-mind issues for Portland voters. Concerns about homelessness continue to rise, while concerns about affordable housing have begun to level off.

These issues have taken a toll on perceptions of the region. A majority of voters say the region’s quality of life is declining—continuing a trend from the December 2017 study.

Economy and Jobs


As the economy continues to improve, most voters report that economically, they are doing the same as last year or are better off, leaving voters to focus on other issues besides jobs.

However, the economy broadly is not a low priority. While voters are less likely to mention jobs unprompted, they say that jobs, housing, and infrastructure are all top priorities for the region.

Future Measures


Voters support investing in transportation that serves people who drive cars and who walk, bike, or take transit. When it comes specifically to multimodal investments, pedestrian projects are the most popular.

A business activities tax to fund K–12 education might be popular, especially in Portland, but voters need more information. Three in ten likely voters strongly oppose the idea.

Portland City Council


In Portland, support for electing City Commissioners by district has grown. Seven in ten likely voters now say they support the idea, compared to just over half of voters in 2016.

Community issues and concerns

Over the past year, voter positivity about the direction of the region has declined.


50%

55%

47%

32%

26%

35%

2018201720142011

Right direction

Wrong track

A slim majority of voters say quality of life in the region is getting worse.


51%

38%

7%4%

Getting worse Staying the same Getting better Don't know

Voters continue to say the biggest issues facing the region are homelessness and affordable housing.


33%

11%

8%

7%

4%

4%

Homelessness

Affordable housing

Roads, infrastructure

Traffic congestion

Politics

Overdevelopment

Concerns about homelessness have risen in the past year. Affordable housing concerns have leveled off.


33%

24%

1%

11%11%

2018201720142011

Homelessness

Affordable housing

Both issues are of greater importance to Portland voters.


47%

25%

18%

7%

Portland Tri-County

Homelessness Affordable housing

More than half of voters say they are very concerned about homelessness.


55%

42%

38%

35%

33%

24%

15%

Homelessness

Affordable housing

Global warming or climate change

Traffic

K–12 public education

Growth and density

Jobs

The issue of jobs has dropped since the recession; it is now a secondary issue. Young voters are more worried.


15%19%

35%

47%

2018201720142011

22%

15%

12%

18–34

35–54

55+

Concern about climate change is growing and is concentrated in Portland.


45%

33%

Portland Tri-county

38%28%26%

21%

2018201720142011

Household prosperity

Voters continue to say that the economic opportunities of the region are good or very good.


Very good14%

Good62%

76%

Most voters are in the same position—or a better one—economically than they were two years ago.


16%

52%

32%

1%

Worse off About the same Better off Don't know

Voters under the age of 55 are the most likely to say that they are better off economically than two years ago.


38%

39%

23%

18–34

35–54

55+

Priorities for the region

Echoing their concerns, voters say housing options and new infrastructure are top priorities.


42%

42%

42%

41%

30%

29%

Invest in public infrastructure

Increase affordable housing

Provide better options for homelesspeople

Create a strong economy

Address climate change

Improve economic opportunities forpeople in underserved communities

Although concerns about the economy are on the decline, voters still see jobs as a priority.


42%

42%

42%

41%

30%

29%

Invest in public infrastructure

Increase affordable housing

Provide better options for homelesspeople

Create strong economy

Address climate change

Improve economic opportunities forpeople in underserved communities

Portland voters are more likely to say creating a strong economy with good jobs is a high priority.


48%

37%

Portland Tri-County

Support for small, local businesses is at an all-time high.


66%62%

42%

25%31%

50%

2018201720142011

Small, locally owned businesses

Large businesses with family-wage jobs

Voters prefer focusing on improving quality of life in the region to attracting businesses and creating jobs.


54%

40%

Focus on making this area a great place to live, with things like

our parks, restaurants, public

transit, and land use, and it will attract

people and businesses to stay

and move here.

Focus on creating jobs and attracting businesses; we need jobs to create a great place to live.

Portland voters are more likely to say it is a high priority for the region to be equitable and diverse.


High43%

Medium34%

Low21%

Equitypriority

Transportation

Voters say it is important to invest in infrastructure for both cars and multimodal transportation.


48% 47%

Prioritize repairing and building

infrastructure that supports motor

vehicles and parking

Prioritize infrastructure that supports alternative modes of transportation such as mass transit, biking, and walking

A similar recent survey shows that tri-county voters would spend just over half of transportation dollars on multimodal options.


45%

55%

Build new roads and highways 37%

Repair existing roads and highways 7%

16% Pedestrian projects15% Expand bicycle lanes

13% Expand bus service

11% Expand rail and train service

When it comes to multimodal transportation priorities, voters put sidewalks and pedestrian projects first.


53%

25%

17%

New sidewalks and pedestrian projects

Other

New bicycle and scooter lanes

Homelessness

Voters believe better mental health and addiction care is the best tool for addressing homelessness.


47%

16%

13%

12%

6%

Improved access to mental healthcare and addiction treatment

Rental and energy bill assistance

Temporary or traditional housing

Subsidized permanent housing

Emergency shelters

Regional satisfaction with elected officials

Satisfaction with local elected officials is split.


30% 6%

46%

15%

Good Poor Don't know

49%46%

Very good/poor

Good/poor

The most reliable voters (voted in 4 out of 4 elections) are the most satisfied with local elected leaders.


60%

41%

43%

4 of 4

3 of 4

2 of 4

Portland City Council

Portland voters are slightly more likely to be satisfied than dissatisfied with City Council.


5%

18%10%

42%25%

Satisfied Dissatisfied Don't know

47%43%

Very

Somewhat

Voters are somewhat more positive about the City Council’s ability to provide services effectively.


6%

5%

48%

42%

54%

47%

Effective atproviding services

Satisfied withcurrent council

Very Somewhat

No single issue stands out to voters who say City Council is effective. Some mention transit and parks.


15% Good, satisfied (general)

13% Okay, but room for improvement

10% Public transit (MAX, buses, trains)

9% Helping the homeless

7% Services are good

7% Good city parks program

7% Trying something new

Nearly one in three who say City Council is ineffective point directly to homelessness.


31% Homelessness19% Not helping, not taking action12% Government waste, inefficiency

12% General negative

9% Wrong priorities

8% Infrastructure

6% Concerns about police

6% Need more housing

Portland voters feel strongly that some neighborhoods are not served equally.


25%

12%

42%

8%

67%

20%

Some neighborhoods are betterrepresented than others

Portland City Council representseveryone equally

Strongly Somewhat

Voters support electing city commissioners by district but the final ballot language will be important.


42%

12%

11%

28%

7%

Support Oppose Don't know

70%

19%

Strongly

Somewhat

70%

54%

20182016

Support

Michelle [email protected]

www.dhmresearch.com

Su [email protected]

Anne [email protected]

portland business alliance 2019 jobs and economy · economy and jobs dhm research | portland...

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