Americans are increasingly pessimistic about their prospects in the labor market and skeptical that they will find a good job under President Donald Trump, according to an Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll. The findings come at a moment when the White House’s promise of an economic boom has been undercut by hiring freezes at some firms, elevated inflation and the economic disruption tied to newly imposed tariffs.

The poll found that 36 percent of U.S. adults approve of how Trump is handling the economy, a figure that has held steady this year after the administration implemented tariffs that analysts say have created broad uncertainty. That rating sits below the comparable approval level at roughly the same point in the previous administration: an AP-NORC poll in October 2021 recorded 41 percent of U.S. adults approving of President Joe Biden’s handling of the economy, including about 73 percent of Democrats.

Public anxiety about finding a good job can reflect more than headline unemployment figures. Workers weigh wages, benefits, stability and the availability of openings in their fields. Even in labor markets that look resilient by some measures, perceptions of declining opportunity can influence spending, savings and political choices. For Republicans, the survey’s portrait of wavering confidence poses a potential warning sign: economic performance and the public’s sense of opportunity are often central to electoral calculations.

Tariffs have been a focal point in the debate over the economy’s direction. Policymakers advancing protectionist measures argue they safeguard domestic industries, but businesses and economists frequently warn that tariffs raise costs, complicate supply chains and deter hiring decisions. The AP-NORC poll suggests that these broad economic shocks have reached everyday voters’ assessments of their own employment futures, translating macroeconomic policy into private insecurity.

The implications extend beyond U.S. politics. Tariff-driven uncertainty can ripple through global supply chains, affecting producers and exporters in Asia, Europe and Latin America, and can shape investor sentiment in international markets. Countries that rely on trade with the United States watch policy shifts closely, and sustained measures that increase costs or constrain trade flows can reshape manufacturing footprints and investment plans over time.

How the White House responds to rising public concern could determine whether perceptions stabilize. Policymakers can attempt to stimulate hiring through incentives or targeted relief for industries experiencing slowdown, but such measures must contend with inflationary pressures that complicate monetary and fiscal responses. For voters, the contrast with the earlier part of the last administration underlines how quickly economic narratives can change and how central perceptions of opportunity remain to political life.

The AP-NORC poll does not alone predict electoral outcomes, but it captures a mood that could influence policy debates and political calculus in the months ahead: a sizable portion of Americans do not feel confident they can secure a good job in the current economic environment, and that unease carries consequences at home and around the globe.