Americans Worry About Jobs and Rising Costs Under Current Policies
WASHINGTON – A recent survey shows that Americans are increasingly concerned about finding good jobs and dealing with high costs under the current administration. This raises potential concerns for Republicans, especially as some believe the promised economic improvements have not fully materialized.
Many families are feeling the pressure of high prices for everyday needs like groceries, housing, and healthcare. Rising electricity bills and gas prices are also causing anxiety, according to the survey.
Around 47% of adults in the U.S. say they are “not very” or “not at all confident” in their ability to find a good job if needed. This is up from 37% in October 2023.
Electricity costs are a big worry for 36% of adults, especially with the expected growth of data centers for artificial intelligence, which could put even more strain on the power grid. Over half of those surveyed said grocery costs are a major source of financial stress, while about 4 in 10 are very concerned about housing and healthcare costs. Around a third are feeling stressed about gas prices.
The survey highlights a challenge for the current administration, which took office promising to quickly control inflation. However, some argue that certain policies have led to economic uncertainty.
One person interviewed, Linda Weavil, voted for the current president because of his business background. However, she mentioned that tariffs have made inflation worse, impacting even small things like the cost of chocolate-covered pecans for her church fundraiser.
The survey found that 36% of adults approve of how the current president is handling the economy. Among Republicans, 71% feel positive about his economic leadership.
At a similar point in the previous administration, approval for handling the economy was slightly higher.
Hiring has slowed down recently.
People see this difference. Four years ago, 36% of those surveyed felt confident about finding a good job, but that number has dropped to 21%.
In some ways, certain policies have made inflation worse by impacting energy projects and imposing tariffs.
Even though 36% see electricity as a major concern, some haven’t felt the financial squeeze yet.
The current administration faces the same economic challenge as the last one. While there are signs of a solid economy, such as a low unemployment rate and stock market gains, many people remain skeptical about the economy’s overall health.
Around 68% of adults describe the U.S. economy as “poor,” while 32% say it’s “good.” About 59% say their family finances are “holding steady,” but only 12% say they’re “getting ahead,” and 28% say they are “falling behind.”
People see plenty of expenses but not enough opportunities.
This economic uncertainty comes from many directions, with concerns that middle-class stability is becoming harder to achieve.
Most adults feel at least some stress about the cost of groceries, healthcare, housing, taxes, wages, and gas.
In the survey, 47% said they are “not very” or “not at all” confident they could pay an unexpected medical expense, while 52% are not confident they will have enough saved for retirement. Additionally, 63% are not confident they could buy a new home if they wanted to.
