Poll: Economic Pessimism & AI Concerns

US Economy Concerns Persist

Negative sentiment regarding the U.S. economy and its trajectory remains consistent, mirroring the ongoing unfavorable views of the U.S. job market. Public apprehension is high that AI could negatively affect jobs, especially considering the numerous AI innovations recently announced.

With rising costs impacting perceptions, more people are saying the economy is declining. The primary way individuals assess the economy is still through prices. Most consumers report that the prices of services and goods they purchase have kept climbing recently, and they anticipate further increases. Despite slightly improved perceptions of gas prices, this trend continues. Over half of those surveyed rate the job market as poor, a harsher assessment compared to six months prior when opinions were more varied. This shift may reflect future outlooks.

Job Security and Availability

Currently employed individuals generally express some degree of job security. However, most Americans believe finding desirable employment would be challenging if they were to seek a new job. Assessments of long-term job market patterns are mixed, with little indication of growth. By a 4-to-1 margin, Americans perceive fewer good jobs available in their local areas compared to five years ago, while the remainder believe the situation has remained stable. Even those who feel secure in their jobs tend to think there are fewer good opportunities.

Partisan Divide and AI Impact

As is typical, political affiliation influences economic evaluations. Republicans are less inclined than Democrats to express unfavorable views of both the economy and the job market. Given continuous discussions on the potential effects of AI across sectors, including the workplace, Americans generally maintain a skeptical view. Overall, they anticipate AI will negatively affect job availability within their fields over the next decade. This concern applies to both employed and unemployed individuals. Consequently, many also think the expansion of AI and AI companies will broadly harm the U.S. economy. While this view is consistent across different education and income levels, it is somewhat less pronounced among younger individuals. Some do believe that AI could simplify available jobs.

Economic Outlook

Overall perceptions of the U.S. economy, which have been net-negative for several years, have decreased slightly since the summer. As has been the trend, individuals with higher incomes tend to report better personal financial situations than those with lower incomes. However, a majority across income levels report rising prices. The CBS News/YouGov survey, conducted from September 30 to October 2, 2025, included a nationally representative sample of 2,489 U.S. adults. The sample was weighted based on gender, age, race, education using data from the U.S. Census American Community Survey and Current Population Survey, as well as the 2024 presidential vote, with a margin of error of ±2.2 points.