More than half of U.S. adults (56%) agree that the results of the 2018 midterm elections will have a positive impact on employment during the next two years, according to the results of a new American Staffing Association Workforce Monitor® survey conducted online by The Harris Poll. The same majority of Americans think that the job market has improved since the last presidential election.
There are differences in perspective by age, as three in five millennials (aged 18-34) (62%) are optimistic about the effect of the midterm elections on employment—a higher proportion than older U.S. adults who report optimism. Conversely, only two in five millennials (42%) say that the job market improved since the 2016 presidential election, less than any other age group, according to the survey results.
Democratic and Republican voters are split in how they view the state of the job market since the 2016 presidential election. Nearly nine in 10 Republican voters say the job market has improved (86%) compared with only four in 10 Democratic voters (40%). However, there is bipartisan consensus about the future—six in 10 voters from each party (59% of Democratic voters; 57% of Republican voters) believe the 2018 midterm elections will have a positive effect on employment, according to the ASA Workforce Monitor.
“A wave of positivity about employment is rippling across the nation following the historic midterm elections, as underscored by the ASA Workforce Monitor,” said Richard Wahlquist, ASA president and chief executive officer. “However, the skills gap remains a serious challenge, and the administration and new Congress must make narrowing the gap a priority to ensure that America has the qualified talent it needs to continue to support economic growth.”
To learn more about the ASA Workforce Monitor, visit americanstaffing.net/workforcemonitor. You can also follow ASA research on Twitter.
Method
The Harris Poll conducted the survey online within the U.S. on behalf of ASA, Nov. 7–9, 2018, among a total of 2,021 U.S. adults age 18 and older. Results were weighted on age, education, race/ethnicity, household income, and geographic region where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the U.S. population.
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About the American Staffing Association (ASA)
The American Staffing Association is the voice of the U.S. staffing, recruiting, and workforce solutions industry. ASA and its state affiliates advance the interests of the industry across all sectors through advocacy, research, education, and the promotion of high standards of legal, ethical, and professional practices. For more information about ASA, visit americanstaffing.net.
About the ASA Workforce Monitor
The ASA Workforce Monitor is a periodic survey commissioned by ASA and conducted online by The Harris Poll among 2,000 or more U.S. adults age 18 and older. The survey series focuses on current workforce trends and issues. For more information about the survey series, visit americanstaffing.net/workforcemonitor.
About The Harris Poll
The Harris Poll is one of the longest running surveys in the U.S. (tracking public opinion, motivations, and social sentiment since 1963) and is now part of Harris Insights & Analytics, a global consulting and market research firm.
