The unemployment rate is down but nervousness about the job market appears to be back.
According to a Gallup poll conducted Feb. 6-9, nearly one in four Americans mentioned jobs and unemployment as the No. 1 problem facing the country, up from 16 percent in January. The government and politicians had topped the list since the government shutdown in October.
Fears about employment and the economy may be linked to weaker-than-hoped-for jobs reports and flat job growth in the past few months. On the other hand, the poll results may also be related to declining concerns about the government.
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Healthcare, meanwhile, continues to rank among the top problems for those polled, with 15 percent naming it, unchanged from January. Mentions of the federal debt/budget deficit also were unchanged at 8 percent, despite a recent vote by Congress to increase the debt ceiling.
Mentions of unemployment and jobs as the most important problem increased among Democrats, Republicans and independents. However, the jump was greatest among Republicans, to 24 percent from 11 percent in January.
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