HOUSTON AREA SURVEY--2010: Perspectives on a City in Transition, From 29 Years of Houston Surveys STEPHEN L. KLINEBERG The GHP-IUR Luncheon and Release of the Findings 21 April 2010
FIGURE 1: POSITIVE RATINGS OF JOB OPPORTUNITIES IN THE HOUSTON AREA (1982-2010) 90 85 80
Percent rating job opportunities in the Houston area as either "excellent" or "good."
76
Percent Giving Positive Ratings
75
73
72
70 67
65
67
60
60 53
55 52
50
46 47
45
45
40 41
49 50
41
38
39
35
40 38
31
30 25
52
48 40
57
27
29 27
20
18
15 10 5
11
0 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 OO O1 O2 O3 O4 O5 O6 O7 O8 O9 10
Year of Survey
FIGURE 2: NEGATIVE RATINGS OF JOB OPPORTUNITIES IN RELATION TO THE OFFICIAL UNEMPLOYMENT RATES (1982-2010) 11
105 100
10.5 9.8
90
9.6
87
85
Percent Giving Negative Ratings
Percent rating "job opportunities" in the Houston area as only "fair" or "poor," in comparison with the official unemployment rates in Harris County.
9.5
80
80
9
75
70 71
70
8.5
65
7.8
7.8
60
56
54
50
52
52
45
56
7.1
49
7.0
48
6.8
7
43
46
42 6.3 6.0
30
5.7
25
(Official Unemployment rates in Harris County)
23
5.2
20
5.2
30
30 25
5.6
5.9
6.5
42
6.4
35
6.0
6.3
36
5.9
38
6 5.5
23
5
4.8
4.5
4.5
4.7
10
4.4
4.3
4
4.1
4.1
5
8
56
7.5
(Negative ratings of job opportunities)
6.7
40
59
58
58
55 50
8.5
65
8.3
65
15
10
0
3.5 82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
Year of Survey
98
99
OO
O1
O2
O3
O4
O5
O6
O7
O8
O9
10
Official Unemployment Rates
10.1
95
FIGURE 3: “WHAT IS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IN THE HOUSTON AREA TODAY?” (1982-2010) 85 80 75
73
72
Traffic
Economy
Crime
70 65 65
Percent of Respondents
(Economy.)
60
60
60
59 (Crime.)
54
55 51
48
50 43
45 40
49
42
41
44
45 40
37
(Traffic.)
37
35
39
35
34
34
38 36
35
33 33
30
28 26
26
31
27
25 20
22
24
23 20
17
19
13
10
14
12
11 14
12
12 10
9
5
8
6
3
26
3
4
7
24 24
18
20 18
15 13
11
8
10
25
24 21
13
15
25
22
21
20
19
31
31
11
13
12
8
8
9
10
11
O3
O4
15 15
13 10
0 82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
Year of Survey
99
OO
O1
O2
O5
O6
O7
O8
O9
10
FIGURE 4: PERCENT DOING BETTER FINANCIALLY IN LAST FEW YEARS AND EXPECTING TO DO BETTER IN NEXT FEW YEARS (1982-2010) 85 80
Personal financial situation has been "getting better" during the last few years.
75
Think that will be "better off" financially three or four years down the road.
Percent Saying, "Better."
70 65
66 63
65
63 60
60 55 50
58
59
58
60 58
(Next few years.)
62
53
58
60
59
60
60
57
53
52
49
(r=-.026, p.=.001)
49
47
44
42
41 38
40
48
48
47 43
58
56
51
45
35
64 62
62
37 33
(Last few years.)
45
40
42 41
40
37
35
37
32 35
34
30
32
31
31
31
32
(r=-.005, n.s.)
25 20 20
15 10
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
Year of Survey
99 OO O1
O2 O3
O4 O5
O6 O7 O8
O9
10
FIGURE 5: TWO MEASURES OF BELIEF IN THE “AMERICAN WORK ETHIC” (1982-2010) 95 90
88
"If you work hard in this city, eventually you will succeed."
85
83
78
78 77 75
Percent "Agreeing."
82
81
81
80
87 85
80
80
78 76
76 75
(r=+.083, p.=.000)
76 73
75 70
67 64
65
62 61
60
60
60
58
57
60
57
58
59
(r=+.087, p.=.000) 55 55
50
52
51 48
45
"People who work hard and live by the rules are not getting a fair break these days."
49
46
40 35
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
Year of Survey
98
99
OO O1 O2 O3 O4 O5 O6 O7 O8 O9
10
FIGURE 6: RATINGS OF THE HOUSTON AREA IN GENERAL AS A PLACE TO LIVE (1996-2010) 105 100 95 90
"How w ould you rate the Houston area in general as a place to live?"
Excellent/Good
Fair/Poor
81.7
Percent of Respondents
85 80
75.4 72.1
75 70 65
(r=+.079, p.=.000)
71.4
71.4
66.5
60 55 50 45 40 35
32.8 27.2
30
27.7
27.5 23.5
25 20
17.7
15 10 5 0
1996
2001
2004
2006
Year of Survey
2008
2010
FIGURE 7: CHANGING PERSPECTIVES ON THE AMERICAN ECONOMY (1994-2010) 100 95
Agree: There are enough good jobs for all welfare recipients who really want to work.
90
Best way to reduce crime is to spend the money on poverty and schools (rather than more prisons). Believe own overall standard of living is or will be higher than parents' standard of living.
Percent of Respondents
85
79
80 (r=+.182, p.=.000)
75
72
70
66
(Own living standards will be higher than parents'.)
65
65 (r=+.034, p.=.028)
61
60 60 57 55
(Spend the money on poverty, schools; not prisons.)
57
56
50 50 45
(Enough good jobs for all on welfare who want to work.) (r=-.158, p.=.000)
40
43
35 30 25
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
Year of Survey
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
FIGURE 8: SUPPORT FOR GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES (FROM 1992 THROUGH 2010) 100 95
A "very serious problem" for U.S. if gap between rich and poor gets significantly bigger. (r=+.029, n.s.)
90
Government should take action to reduce income differences in America. (r=-.077, p=.000) Favor: Federal health insurance to cover the medical expenses of all Americans. (r=-.026, p.=.057)
85
Percent of Respondents
Favor: Requiring utlities to reduce their CO2 emissions, even if electricity rates will rise. (r=-.113, p.=.000)
80 75 76
70
71
(Federal health insurance.)
65
74 71
67
66
67
64 63
60
(Rich-poor gap serious.)
60
52
(Reduce CO2 emissions.)
55 52
(Reduce income differences.)
50
54
50
49
45 44
48
44
40
39
35 30 25 1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
Year of Survey
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
FIGURE 9: ATTITUDES TOWARD LAND-USE PLANNING AND URBAN LIFESTYLES (2009-2010) 100 95 90
Percent of Respondents
85
(Redevelop older areas.)
(Favor.)
80
(Better landuse planning.)
75
72.9
79.9
65
(Big home, yard, need to drive.)
60
56.8
70
(Improve rail and buses.)
(Smaller, more urban, walking distance.)
55 50 45
82.7
51.7
(Expand existing highways.) 41.5
40.7
40 (Free to build wherever.)
35 30 25 20 15 10 5
(Build on edge of suburbs.)
21.3
(Oppose.)
14.1
(DK) 6.0
(DK) (DK)
6.8
(DK) 5.7
10.6 (DK) 6.7
2.5
0 Which is the best way for If you could choose where Which would be the better Better land-use planning Harris County to to live in the Houston way to spend taxpayer to guide growth; or accommodate growth area, which would you transportation money? people should be free to during the next 20 years? prefer? (2010) (2010) build wherever they (2010) want? (2010)
Would you favor or oppose creating a General Plan to guide Houston's future growth? (2009)
FIGURE 10: THE INTEREST AMONG ANGLOS IN MOVING FROM SUBURBS TO CITY AND FROM CITY TO SUBURBS (1999-2010) Percent Saying, "Very" or "Somewhat Interested."
65 (If lives in suburbs:) "Very" or "somewhat interested" in someday moving to the city.
60
(If lives in city:) "Very" or "somewhat interested" in someday moving to the suburbs. 55 50 45
Anglo respondents only. 46
40
(Move to suburbs.)
41
43
38
38 36
(r=-.100, p.=.000)
35 31
30 28
31
27
25 (Move to city.)
31
25
29 27
25 20
22
(r=-.010, n.s.)
25 23
23
20 15 10 5 1999
2000
2003
2004
2005
2006
Year of Survey
2007
2008
2009
2010
FIGURE 11: ON PENSION FUNDS, TERM LIMITS, DRUG POLICIES, AND LOCAL FOOD (HAS-2010) 85 80 (Agree.)
75
69
70
(two 4-year terms.)
Percent of Respondents
65 60
56
55 50 45
(Raise taxes.)
(Very impt.)
(Cut benefits.)
43
42 40
41
(three 3-year terms.)
40 35
(Disagree.) 29
30
26
25 20
(Somewhat important.)
(DK) (DK)
(DK)
17
16
17
15 (DK)
10
5
5 0 How to deal with retirement benefits promised to city workers?
How best to change term limits placed on city-of-Houston officials?
Individuals with small amounts of illegal drugs should be fined, not jailed.
How important is it to you to be able to buy locally grown food?
FIGURE 12: THE DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSFORMATIONS OF HARRIS COUNTY (1960-2008) 4.5 4.0
6.7%
Anglos
Blacks
Hispanics
Asians/Others 6.7%
Population, in Millions
3.5 3.0
39.3%
4.1% 32.9%
2.1%
2.5
22.7% 15.5%
2.0
0.8% 9.9%
1.5 6.0% 19.8%
62.7%
0.5
19.1%
18.2%
54.0%
42.1%
17.9%
20.1%
0.3%
1.0
19.7%
73.9%
36.0%
69.2%
0.0
1960 (1,243,258)
1970 (1,741,912)
1980 (2,409,547)
1990 (2,818,199)
2000 (3,400,578)
2008, est.* (3,984,349)
Source: U.S. Census (www.census.gov); classifications based on Texas State Data Center conventions; total populations are given in parentheses; *from the 2008 Official Population Estimates.
FIGURE 13: THE PROPORTIONS IN FOUR AGE GROUPS WHO ARE ANGLO, BLACK, LATINO, AND ASIAN OR OTHER (2006-2010, COMBINED) 85 80 Anglos
Blacks
Hispanics
Asians/Others
75 70
67.3
65 60.0
Percent of Respondents
60 55 50 45.1 45
41.5
40 35 28.4
30 24.6
25 20
19.2
23.6 22.7
19.1 16.0
15
11.2 8.6
10 4.9 5
5.5
2.3
0
Ages 60-93 (N=941)
Ages 45-59 (N=1,092)
Ages 30-44 (N=785)
Ages 18-29 (N=556)
FIGURE 14: ATTITUDES TOWARD “ILLEGAL� IMMIGRANTS IN HOUSTON (2006-2010) 95 Favor: Granting illegal immigrants path to citizenship, if speak English and no criminal record. [r=-.059, p.=.002]
90
Favor: A law that would deny health and welfare services to illegal immigrants in Texas. [r=+.024, n.s.]
85
Very serious: Problem of so many undocumented immigrants coming here in recent years. [r=+.103, p.=.000]
80 Favor: Building a 2,000-mile fence, if cost not a factor, to stop all undocumented immigration. [r=+.077, p.=.000]
Percent of Respondents
75 70
68
65
(Path to citizenship.)
61
61
62
60 56
59
55 (Build a fence.) 50
55
52
50 50
45 43
40
44
48
(Deny public services.)
(Very serious problem.)
35 30 25 2006
2007
2008
Year of Survey
2009
2010
FIGURE 15: CHANGING ASSESSMENTS OF HOUSTON’S ETHNIC DIVERSITY (1994–2010) 95 90
The increasing diversity will become a source of great strength (not a growing problem) for the city.
85
The increasing ethnic diversity, due to immigration, is a good thing (rather than a bad thing).
Percent of Respondents
80
The increasing immigration mostly strengthens (rather than threatens) American culture.
75 69
70
69
63
65
64
(A good thing.)
55
64 62 60
59 57
69
65 66
60
(r=+.082, p.=.000)
67
(Source of strength.)
61 (r=+.020, n.s.)
57
54
55
50
52
(r=+.039, p.=.021)
49
45 44
(Strengthens American culture.)
40 39
35 30 25 20 1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
Year of Survey
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
FIGURE 16: SUPPORT FOR GAY RIGHTS (FROM 1991 THROUGH 2010) 100 95 Favor: Allowing homosexuals to teach in the public schools. [r=+.094, p.=.000]
90
Favor: Homosexuals being legally permitted to adopt children. [r=+.215,p.=.000]
85
Favor: Alowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military. [r=+.185, p.=000]
80
Agree: Give homosexual marriages same legal status as heterosexual marriages. [r=+.050, p.=.000]
73
Percent of Respondents
75 70
66
65
60
60
(Gays teaching.)
59
56
55
52
(Gays in military.) 52
50
48
43
45
41
41 37
40 34
35
38 36
43
(Gay marriage.) 37
30 30
32 29
25
27
26
(Gay adoptions.)
20 15
64
19
10 5 0 1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
Year of Survey
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
A SUMMARY OF THIS YEAR’S FINDINGS:
When asked how things were going for them, only 20% said their financial situation was getting better -- the lowest number ever recorded in all of the 29 years of Houston surveys.
These financial concerns are influencing area residents’ attitudes toward jobs, immigration, and the role of government, but they have not dampened enthusiasm for Houston as a place to live nor for its efforts to provide more urban lifestyles.
Harris County residents appear to be increasingly comfortable with the demographic transformations of the region. Growing percentages believe that Houston’s burgeoning diversity will be a source of great strength for the city, and their support for gay rights continues to grow across all questions and years.
CONTACT INFORMATION The “Institute for Urban Research” at Rice University Professor Stephen L. Klineberg, Co-Director 713-348-3484 or slk@rice.edu
Contact Rice University (at: has@rice.edu; or call 713-348-4225) for copies of the following publications: * the report on the first 24 years of Houston surveys (Public Perceptions in Remarkable Times, 2005) * the report on survey findings in the six major sectors of the greater Houston area (Regional Perspectives, 2007) For further information, or to download additional reports and PowerPoint slides, please visit the Institute’s websites, at: www.houstonareasurvey.org or www.iur.rice.edu