A Comparison of Human Resources Characteristics of Employed and Unemployed Primary Income Earners in Ohio

Abstract

Survey data were collected in 1984 from a statewide sample of 2,341 households to ascertain the recreation needs of Ohio residents. One segment of the questionnaire was focused on employment status of the primary income earner in the household. These data provided the information needed to examine the merits of a human resources development model used to guide the study. Discriminant analysis was used in an attempt to isolate human resources variables which differentiate unemployed and employed primary income earners. The findings revealed that the human resources development factors included in the study were poor predictors of employment status. While the findings were consistent with research expectations, the strength of the associations was very low. It was concluded that the human resources development model was not adequate to explain employment status as measured in this study.