NEW YORK, N.Y. – The economy’s a funny thing, as it exists – and can be perceived differently – at so many levels. From world to nation to region, all the way down to your own household, reading economic tea leaves can have a great deal to do with where you’re standing.
Turning to the job market in one’s own region, the perception that it’s good (26%) is on the rise – not just in comparison to the 20% who rated it “good” in March (the last time the question was asked), but in comparison to every data point since January 2009. That’s not to say the news is all good: while the 41% of Americans rating the job market in their region as “bad” is down from March, as well as from any other time since 2008, they still outpace the “good” ratings by a wide margin. Additionally, one-third of U.S. adults (34%) rate the current job market in their region neither good nor bad.
Looking to the next six months, over a fourth of Americans (27%) believe the job market in their region will get
better within that time, up from under a fourth in March (23%). Two in ten U.S. adults (20%) believe it will be
worse, down slightly from 22% in March. Meanwhile, just over half (53%) believe it will remain the same, a slight
decrease from 55% in March.
