A recent poll by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research reveals increasing anxiety among Americans about employment prospects under President Donald Trump, signaling potential political challenges for the Republican Party. Despite early promises of robust economic expansion, the reality has included hiring slowdowns and persistent inflation, undermining public confidence. n nThe survey indicates that 47% of U.S. adults feel they would struggle to secure a good job if needed, up from 37% in October 2023. This growing skepticism coincides with ongoing financial pressures, including high costs for groceries, housing, health care, and energy. n nElectricity expenses have emerged as a notable concern, with 36% of respondents calling them a “major” source of stress. This comes amid projections of increased power demand due to artificial intelligence data center development, which may strain existing infrastructure. Over half of Americans cite grocery prices as a serious financial burden, while 40% report similar strain from housing and health care costs, and about one-third are stressed by gasoline prices. n nAlthough the broader economy shows resilience—marked by low unemployment and steady growth—public perception remains negative. Around 68% describe the national economic situation as “poor,” compared to just 32% who view it positively. Only 12% believe their household finances are improving, while 28% feel they are falling behind. n nTrump’s economic approval stands at 36%, unchanged since the implementation of sweeping tariffs that introduced market uncertainty. While 71% of Republicans approve of his economic management, support among independents remains low at 18%, lagging behind Biden’s 29% approval from the same group in late 2021. This gap could influence upcoming gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia, as well as the 2026 midterms. n nJob creation has weakened under Trump’s current administration, averaging fewer than 27,000 new positions per month after April’s tariff announcements, a sharp decline from the stronger hiring pace seen during the post-pandemic recovery under Biden. Confidence in finding quality employment has dropped from 36% four years ago to just 21% today. n nPolicy decisions such as cutting renewable energy funding and imposing import duties on industrial equipment have compounded inflationary pressures. These actions precede anticipated infrastructure demands from AI expansion, potentially driving utility costs higher without corresponding supply improvements. n nDespite the economic headwinds, some households report manageable impacts. Forty percent classify electricity costs as a “minor” concern, and 23% say they are not a financial burden at all. However, individuals like Kevin Halsey, a telecommunications worker from Illinois, report summer electric bills rising from $90 to $300 after losing solar incentives, leading him to label the current economic climate as “crap.” n nFinancial insecurity extends beyond monthly bills. Nearly half of Americans lack confidence in covering unexpected medical costs, and 52% doubt they will have sufficient retirement savings. Additionally, 63% are pessimistic about their ability to purchase a home. Among adults under 30, 80% express little to no confidence in homeownership, compared to 60% of those aged 60 and older. n nThe AP-NORC survey, conducted October 9–13 with 1,289 adults via NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, carries a margin of error of ±3.8 percentage points. n
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Americans are more worried about their chances on the job market under Trump, AP-NORC poll finds
WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans are growing increasingly concerned about their ability to find a good job under President Donald Trump, an Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll finds, in what is a potential warning sign for Republicans as a promised economic boom has given way to hiring freezes and elevated inflation. n nHigh prices for groceries, housing and health care persist as a fear for many households, while rising electricity bills and the cost of gas at the pump are also sources of anxiety, according to the survey. n nSome 47% of U.S. adults are “not very” or “not at all confident” they could find a good job if they wanted to, an increase from 37% when the question was last asked in October 2023. n nREAD MORE: Without a new jobs report, U.S. ‘flying blind’ on hiring in an uncertain economy n nElectricity bills are a “major” source of stress for 36% of U.S. adults at a time when the expected build-out of data centers for artificial intelligence could further tax the power grid. Just more than one-half said the cost of groceries are a “major” source of financial stress, about 4 in 10 said the cost of housing and health care were a serious strain and about one-third said they were feeling high stress about gasoline prices. n nThe survey suggests an ongoing vulnerability for Trump, who returned to the White House in January with claims he could quickly tame the inflation that surged after the pandemic during Democratic President Joe Biden’s term. Instead, Trump’s popularity on the economy has remained low amid a mix of tariffs, federal worker layoffs and partisan sniping that has culminated in a government shutdown. n nLinda Weavil, 76, voted for Trump last year because he “seems like a smart businessman.” But she said in an interview that the Republican’s tariffs have worsened inflation, citing the chocolate-covered pecans sold for her church group fundraiser that now cost more. n n“I think he’s doing a great job on a lot of things, but I’m afraid our coffee and chocolate prices have gone up because of tariffs,” the retiree from Greensboro, North Carolina, said. “That’s a kick in the back of the American people.” n nVoters changed presidents, but they’re not feeling better about Trump’s economy n nThe poll found that 36% of U.S. adults approve of how Trump is handling the economy, a figure that has held steady this year after he imposed tariffs that caused broad economic uncertainty. Among Republicans, 71% feel positive about his economic leadership. Yet that approval within Trump’s own party is relatively low in ways that could be problematic for Republicans in next month’s races for governor in New Jersey and Virginia, and perhaps even in the 2026 midterm elections. n nAt roughly the same point in Biden’s term, in October 2021, an AP-NORC poll found that 41% of U.S. adults approved of how he was handling the economy, including about 73% of Democrats. That overall number was a little higher than Trump’s, primarily because of independents — 29% approved of how Biden was handling the economy, compared with the 18% who currently support Trump’s approach. n nWATCH: K-shaped economy: Why the wealthy are thriving as most Americans fall behind n nThe job market was meaningfully stronger in terms of hiring during Biden’s presidency as the United States was recovering from pandemic-related lockdowns. But hiring has slowed sharply under Trump with monthly job gains averaging less than 27,000 after the April tariff announcements. n nPeople see that difference. n nFour years ago, 36% of those in the survey were “extremely” or “very” confident in their ability to get a good job, but that has fallen to 21% now. n nBiden’s approval on the economy steadily deteriorated through the middle of 2022 when inflation hit a four-decade high, creating an opening for Trump’s political comeback. n nElectricity costs are an emerging worry n nIn some ways, Trump has made the inflation problems harder by choosing to cancel funding for renewable energy projects and imposing tariffs on the equipment needed for factories and power plants. Those added costs are coming before the anticipated construction of data centers for AI that could further push up prices without more construction. n nWATCH: How AI infrastructure is driving a sharp rise in electricity bills n nEven though 36% see electricity as a major concern, there are some who have yet to feel a serious financial squeeze. In the survey, 40% identified electricity costs as a “minor” stress, while 23% said their utility bills are “not a source” of stress. n nKevin Halsey, 58, of Normal, Illinois, said his monthly electricity bills used to be $90 during the summer because he had solar panels, but have since jumped to $300. Halsey, who works in telecommunications, voted Democratic in last year’s presidential election and described the economy right now as “crap.” n n“I’ve got to be pessimistic,” he said. “I don’t see this as getting better.” n nAt a fundamental level, Trump finds himself in the same economic dilemma that bedeviled Biden. There are signs the economy remains relatively solid with a low unemployment rate, stock market gains and decent economic growth, yet the public continues to be skeptical about the economy’s health. n nSome 68% of U.S. adults describe the U.S. economy these days as “poor,” while 32% say it’s “good.” That’s largely consistent with assessments of the economy over the past year. n nIn addition, 59%, say their family finances are “holding steady.” But only 12% say they’re “getting ahead,” and 28% say they are “falling behind.” n nPeople see plenty of expenses but few opportunities n nThe sense of economic precarity is coming from many different directions, with indications that many think middle-class stability is falling out of reach. n nThe vast majority of U.S. adults feel at least “minor” stress about the cost of groceries, health care, housing, the amount they pay in taxes, what they are paid at work and the cost of gas for their cars. n nIn the survey, 47%, say they are “not very” or “not at all” confident they could pay an unexpected medical expense while 52% have low confidence they will have enough saved for their retirement. Also, 63%, are “not very” or “not at all” confident they could buy a new home if they wanted to. n nYoung adults are much less confident about their ability to buy a house, though confidence is not especially high across the board. About 8 in 10 U.S. adults under age 30 say they are “not very confident” or “not at all confident” they would be able to buy a house, compared with about 6 in 10 adults 60 and older. n nFor 54% of U.S. adults, the cost of groceries is a “major source” of stress in their life right now. n nUnique Hopkins, 36, of Youngstown, Ohio, said she is now working two jobs after her teenage daughter had a baby, leaving Hopkins with a sense that she can barely tread water as part of the “working poor.” She voted for Trump in 2016, only to switch to Democrats after she felt his ego kept him from uniting the country and solving problems. n n“It’s his way or no way,” she said. “Nobody is going to unite with Trump if it’s all about you, you, you.” n nThe AP-NORC poll of 1,289 adults was conducted Oct. 9-13, using a sample drawn from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for adults overall is plus or minus 3.8 percentage points. n nA free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. n nSupport trusted journalism and civil dialogue.