UCI

Orange County residents are pleased with the current spate of job opportunities in their region, but are much less happy with the availability of housing they can afford and the traffic congestion. In the past two years, satisfaction with job opportunities has increased, while complaints about housing affordability and traffic congestion have also risen.

Nine in 10 say they are satisfied with the job opportunities in their region, with 43% very satisfied and 48% somewhat satisfied. In 1998, 33% were very satisfied with job opportunities. Today, fewer Latinos than non-Hispanic whites (34% to 48%) are very satisfied with the job market. Satisfaction is lower in the North County than in the South. And while 62% of those with household incomes of $80,000 or more a year say they are very satisfied with the region’s job offerings, only 31% of those making less than $36,000 a year agree. Also, fewer people aged 18 to 34 are very satisfied (36%) than are older residents (47%).

As for the availability of housing they can afford in their region, two in three are satisfied. Only 17% in the county are very satisfied, half are somewhat satisfied and fully a third are not satisfied. In 1998, 22% were very satisfied. Today, more residents are not satisfied with affordable housing in the South than in the North (38% to 32%). Fewer Latinos than non-Hispanic whites are highly satisfied with the region’s housing offerings. Only 13% of people under 55 are very satisfied, compared to 27% of older residents, and only 11% of those with incomes below $36,000 are very satisfied, compared to 24% of those making $80,000 or more a year.

Eight in 10 say traffic congestion is a problem in their region, with a third calling it a big problem. In 1998, 26% rated traffic as a big problem. Today, traffic is seen as a big problem more often in the North County than the South (38% to 26%), and is equally vexing among Latinos and non-Hispanic whites, and in all income and age groups.