Workers Want to Cut Costs, Survey Shows : Workplace: But most of those who responded say programs put in place by their bosses are not very effective.

An overwhelming majority of workers feel a responsibility to cut costs in the workplace, but most say the programs launched by bosses to do just that are not very effective, according to a survey released Thursday.

The survey of workers by Brooks International of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., found that 86% of those interviewed felt a personal obligation to help keep costs as low as possible.

And 64% said they felt they could make a significant contribution to cost-reduction efforts.

But only 30% said management had effective ways for identifying those people or areas responsible for generating higher costs, while 54% said programs developed by their companies to recognize and reward individual efforts toward cost reduction did not work very well.

The management consulting firm interviewed 11,000 employees from 12 major companies in six industries. One out of every four workers interviewed was in a supervisory position, Brooks said.

While most employees said management encourages cost-reducing ideas, only 30% said individual contributions were rewarded and recognized.

And 47% felt those contributions were not rewarded, while 23% were uncertain.

“Most organizations have been actively communicating the need to lower costs for the last decade. Moreover, most employees understand this need and feel personally able to help address it,” said George Brubrick, president of Brooks International. “What’s missing is the incentive.”

THE NEW WORKER During this decade, small-business owners will have to adjust to dramatic changes in the U.S. labor force.

Consider these statistics from the Monthly Labor Review :

Non-Hispanic white males will account for only 8.5% of the new entrants to the labor force.

Hispanics will account for almost 30% of the additions to the labor force.

Blacks will add another 17% and Asian-Americans will add 11%.

The number of Asian-American workers will increase by 71% between 1986 and 2000.

Of the 21.2 million people expected to join the labor force between 1986 and 2000, 12.6 million will be women and 8.6 million will be men.

WOMEN WORKERS Women as a percentage of the U.S. labor force. 1950: 30% 1960: 33% 1970: 38% 1980: 43% 1990: 45% 2000: 47%* *projected Source: Labor Department A CHANGING WORK FORCE Labor force growth by race or ethnic origin, 1986-2000 White male: 8.5% White female: 34.8% Asian: 11.4% Hispanic: 28.7% Black: 17.4% Source: Monthly Labor Review