(02/22/11) -

Americans More Optimistic About Job Creation Than Last Year

A third of respondents believe the private sector is primarily responsible for generating new jobs.

For the first time in a year, Americans are showing signs of optimism when they assess the country’s job market, a new Vision Critical / Angus Reid poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative sample of 1,001 American adults, one-in-four respondents (25%) think the unemployment rate will be higher one year from now. This represents an eight point drop since a similar poll conducted in August 2010, and an 11-point decrease since a survey conducted in February 2010.

Respondents in the Northeast (37%) are more optimistic about a reduction in the unemployment rate than those living in the West (26%), the Midwest (25%) and the South (24%).

Across the country, 32 per cent of respondents think the private sector is primarily responsible for creating new jobs at this time, a seven point increase in a year. Half of Americans (50%) continue to state that generating employment is the duty of both the federal government and the private sector.

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

CONTACT:

Mario Canseco, Vice President, Communications & Media Relations
+877 730 3570
mario.canseco@visioncritical.com

Methodology: From February 16 to February 17, 2011, Vision Critical conducted an online survey among 1,001 American adults who are Springboard America panelists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 3.1%. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of the United States. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.