Employed adults are politically engaged but pessimistic about the country and the economy, with important divides by age, gender, party, and region. The survey was conducted online among 807 employed adults ages 18-65 between November 19-24, 2025, with an overall margin of error of +/- 3.5 percentage points; subsets have larger error margins and should be interpreted as directional.
Engagement and Likelihood to Vote
Most working adults say they are highly likely to participate in national elections. Just over half (51%) say they would "definitely" vote, and another 20% are "very likely," putting about seven in ten in the high-turnout pool. Only 10% say they are "not likely" to vote, and 4% are not sure. Voter turnout rises steadily with age. Younger workers (18-29) are less locked in at 44% percent say they would definitely vote-compared with a clear majority of those in their 40s (50% definitely) and 50s (55% definitely), and about seven in ten workers aged 60-65. Regionally, "definitely vote" is broadly similar across the country, but engagement is somewhat stronger in the East (53% definitely) and Midwestern (52% definitely) and Western (51% definitely) workers. Women (49% definitely) and men (53% definitely) show comparable overall levels of self-reported likelihood to vote.
Mood of the Country
On the basic "right direction / wrong track" question about the United States, employed adults are clearly downbeat. One-third (33%) say the country is heading in the right direction, while the majority (54%) believe things are off on the wrong track; 13% are not sure. Regionally, pessimism is strongest in the Central/Great Lakes states (30% right direction) and the West (27% right direction). In those regions, roughly six in ten say the country is on the wrong track, and fewer than three in ten say it is headed in the right direction. By contrast, adults in the South (38% right direction/49% wrong track) and East (35% right direction/50% wrong track) are somewhat more upbeat, though still negative overall. Partisans are divided but share a generally negative outlook, with Democrats and independents especially skeptical.
Views of the National Economy and Foreign Policy
Perceptions of the national economy are slightly more negative than positive. Only about one in three employed adults (34%) describe it as "excellent" or "good," while another third call it "fair" and 31% say the economy is "poor." Age and gender create meaningful divides: workers ages 50-59 (41% poor) is the group most negative, and women (40% poor) are considerably more pessimistic than men (24% poor). Younger workers show more polarization-both higher "excellent -18%" and sizable "poor -31%" ratings.
We asked about the economy in terms of right track/wrong direction and directionally, 34% say the economy is headed in the right direction while 55% say wrong track. Western (64% wrong track) workers are the most negative; Eastern (49% wrong track) and Southern (51% wrong track) workers are slightly less so, but still net-negative. Foreign policy evaluations track closely: 36% right direction, 50% wrong track.
Personal Finances and Economic Experience
While national economic ratings tilt negative, personal finances are more evenly distributed: 13% say they are "much better" and 22% "somewhat better" than a year ago; 31% say the same; 34% say worse to varying degrees. Younger -age 18-29 (43% better) and higher-income workers - $150K+ (48%, much and somewhat better combined) are more likely to say they have improved; lower-income - <$50K (28% better) and caregiving (21% better) adults more often report worsening finances.
Responsibility and Partisan Framing
Respondents distribute responsibility for current economic conditions across multiple actors, but mainly President Trump (51%), former President Biden (15%), Congress (7%), state and local government (4%) corporations (4%), and global events (3%) and no one (9%). Democrats (76%) tend to blame Trump; Republicans blame President Trump (35%) the most, followed closely by former President Biden (30%) and Congress (10%); Independents spread blame broadly, but mostly on President Trump (41%) and Biden (10%).
Conclusion
Overall, employed adults appear politically engaged but broadly dissatisfied with the national direction, the economy, and U.S. foreign policy. Differences by region, age, gender, and party underscore the complexity of today's electorate-one that is pessimistic about national conditions while expressing more mixed views of personal finances. This suggests possibly an uneven economic recession that is shaping political attitudes and expectations.
While some employed adults report experiencing economic improvement, the majority do not. Concerns about affordability remain widespread, cutting across demographic and partisan lines. In assessing responsibility for current economic conditions, a majority of employed adults point to President Trump, including a plurality of Republicans. This highlights a persistent economic anxiety. Absent any economic improvements in affordability and cost-of-living pressures, these concerns could erode support even among the most ardent Trump voters.
Current Employment Status
Age Group
Gender
Likelihood to Vote in National Elections
Party Identification
Right Direction / Wrong Track - United States Overall
Right Direction / Wrong Track - U.S. Economy
Right Direction / Wrong Track - U.S. Foreign Policy
Rating of U.S. Economy
Personal Financial Situation vs Last Year
