Adaptation Strategies of Displaced Idaho Woods Workers: Results of a Longitudinal Panel Study

Adaptation strategies of displaced Idaho woods workers are examined by means of a longitudinal panel study. Workers, laid off by a large company for economic rather than for environmental/public policy reasons, were interviewed shortly after the layoff and again a year later. The most commonly chosen adaptation strategy at the time of both the first and second interview was to work for one of several small contract logging firms, usually at significantly reduced wages and benefits and with little job security and greater perceived risks of work - related injury. The next most commonly chosen strategies at the time of the first interview were retirement and remaining unemployed. A small number opted for retraining. By the time of the second interview the number choosing retraining had increased but was still comparatively small. Perhaps the most striking finding was that at the second interview, of 84 original panelists only 2 had left their home area in search of employment in other locations.