A report out today by Marist College paints a dark picture for workers in the Hudson Valley.

According to the report, workers in the region have seen little increase in wages, face significantly higher costs for necessities, such as fuel, utilities and food, and are increasingly resorting to finding jobs outside the region, in places such as Manhattan and Albany.

Further, the report notes, employment opportunities are being impacted by greater growth in the number of residents in the region compared to the number of jobs being created.

“The labor force has been growing faster than the numbers of job,” said the report’s author, Bureau of Economic Research Director Christy Huebner Caridi. “Between 2002 and 2007, the labor force grew 1.1 percent while the number of jobs grew just 0.8 percent.”

Adding to the pain is the high cost of housing, with more homeowners in the Hudson Valley reporting mortgage costs accounting for more than 30 percent of their yearly income.

A paycheck and medical benefits may be the key reasons most Americans go to work, but the ability to work someplace that’s bright, airy and fresh also appeals to a great many of us, according to a study to be published next week.

Seventy-three percent of U.S. workers said office surroundings are important when considering potential employers, according to a survey conducted for Ambius, a Chicago area-based supplier of interior landscapes, which includes plants, of course.

While the results may not be startling — after all, who wants to work in a dark, gloomy office or job site — the poll did have one surprising outcome.

Of the workers surveyed, 11 percent said they wish they had “more attractive colleagues.”

Apparently, greenery and a paint job aren’t the only way to brighten up the office.

Welcome to the People@Work blog.

Regular readers of The Journal News business section may recognize the familiar People@Work column, which has been a regular feature of the newspaper and the Web site since 2003.

Now I’m blogging about workplace issues, too, covering a greater number of topics to help workers in the Lower Hudson Valley meet the daily challenges of work, including balancing the demands of home and job.

And you can help, by suggesting topics for exploration, offering news tips or simply commenting on the latest trends in the workplace, many of which will be discussed here.

So check in regularly and explore what’s going on in workplaces and job sites around the region.