Author Dr. Karen Johnson highlights findings from 2024 Career Optimism Index® and impact of resilience on career satisfaction and engagement

University of Phoenix College of Doctoral Studies has released a new white paper, “The Resilience Factor: American Workforce's Adaptation to Ongoing Challenges,” by Karen Johnson, Ed.D., senior fellow in the University’s Center for Educational and Instructional Technology Research (CEITR) and full-time faculty in the College. Johnson draws upon data from the 2024 University of Phoenix Career Institute® Career Optimism Index® study to analyze trends through the lens of Conservation of Resources Theory and Resilience and explores the interplay between resource loss/gain and well-being, as well as the impact of resilience on career satisfaction and engagement.

“Workers continue to report work-related anxiety, and they continue to seek mental health resources,” Johnson states. “By understanding and addressing the complex interplay of mental health, career optimism, and workforce resilience, organizations can create environments that not only support employee well-being but also drive innovation and productivity.”

The white paper explores the concept of resilience and highlights that individuals and organizations may find that they can build resilience by investing in and developing new resources, providing examples of both employer-led resilience practices and individual self-initiated resilience practices.

The white paper also highlights how workers can build resilience through upskilling. “By investing in their own education and skills acquisition, workers increase their job security and also enhance their self-efficacy,” shares Johnson.

Johnson is a Senior Fellow in CEITR and serves as faculty in the College of Doctoral Studies where she has helped guide more than 100 students through the dissertation process. She also serves as a reviewer for the university's Dissertation to Publication workshop, in which faculty assist recent graduates with publishing the results of their dissertation studies in academic journals.

Johnson earned a doctorate in Higher Education from Texas Tech University and completed her Master of Arts in Secondary Education and bachelor’s degree with University of Texas.

Johnson has been a faculty member at the University of Phoenix since 2005.

The full white paper is available at the University of Phoenix Career Institute^® webpage or as a direct link here.

About University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix innovates to help working adults enhance their careers and develop skills in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, skills-mapped curriculum for our bachelor’s and master’s degree programs and a Career Services for Life® commitment help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit phoenix.edu.

About the College of Doctoral Studies

University of Phoenix’s College of Doctoral Studies focuses on today’s challenging business and organizational needs, from addressing critical social issues to developing solutions to accelerate community building and industry growth. The College’s research program puts students in the center of an effective ecosystem of experts, resources and tools to help prepare them to be a leader in their organization, industry and community. Through this program, students and researchers work with organizations to conduct research that can be applied in the workplace in real time.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250107449569/en/