Stable Views on Economic Opportunity

Economic Optimism Remains Stable, but Not Strong

Despite some minor fluctuations, economic optimism among American adults has not seen a significant boost over the past six months. According to the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey, 59% of American adults believe it is possible for anyone who really wants to work to find a job. This figure represents a slight increase from 58% in March, but still remains 10 points below the all-time high of 69% recorded in April 2019.

The survey also highlights the expectations of full-time workers regarding their future earnings. Among those with full-time jobs, 48% expect to earn more money a year from now, while 11% think they will earn less, and 35% anticipate earning about the same amount. These findings show minimal changes compared to previous data from March.

The survey, which involved 1,334 American adults, was conducted on September 24-25 and 28, 2024. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. All fieldwork for Rasmussen Reports surveys is carried out by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. For more details on methodology, visit the official website.

Employment Trends and Demographic Differences

Forty-four percent (44%) of those surveyed have a full-time job, which marks a two-point decline from 46% in March and is significantly lower than the 54% who were working full-time in April 2019. Among those currently employed full-time, 68% believe that anyone who really wants to work can find a job.

When looking at political affiliations, 48% of Republicans, 44% of Democrats, and 42% of those unaffiliated with either major party are working full-time. Among full-time workers, more Republicans (54%) than Democrats (49%) or the unaffiliated (43%) expect to earn more money in a year.

Seventy-five percent (75%) of Republicans, 52% of Democrats, and 53% of the unaffiliated believe it is possible for anyone who really wants to work to find a job. These figures highlight varying levels of optimism across different political groups.

Gender, Age, and Ethnicity Influences

Significantly more men (55%) than women (36%) currently have a full-time job. Among full-time workers, men are more likely than women to believe they will be earning more a year from now.

Sixty-four percent (64%) of Americans ages 40 to 49 are currently working full-time jobs, compared to 48% of adults under 30. However, among full-time workers, those under 30 are most likely to expect an increase in their earnings. Women under 40 are least likely to think that anyone who really wants to work can find a job.

In terms of ethnicity, 61% of whites, 58% of blacks, 54% of Hispanics, and 53% of other minorities say it is possible for anyone who really wants to work to find a job. Hispanics are the most likely group to be employed full-time.

Family Status and Education Impact Employment

Married adults and those with children at home are more likely to be working full-time than their unmarried or childless peers. College graduates are significantly more likely to be employed full-time. Additionally, a majority of those with annual incomes above $50,000 are employed full-time.

These trends reflect broader patterns in employment and economic outlooks, influenced by factors such as gender, age, ethnicity, family status, education, and income level. Despite some small improvements in certain areas, overall economic optimism remains relatively stagnant compared to previous years.