Poll: U.S. Economy, AI Impact Concerns

Negative Views on Economy Persist

U.S. economic pessimism continues, with negative ratings sustained for years, alongside similarly negative views of the job market. Public suspicion is high that AI could negatively impact jobs, especially given the numerous announcements of AI innovations. The percentage of people who believe the economy is declining has risen again, mainly because rising costs continue to influence perceptions.

Prices and Job Market Assessments

The primary way people gauge the overall economy is through prices, with most reporting ongoing increases in the cost of goods and services. The majority anticipate these prices will continue to rise, despite some improvement in gas prices. Over half of Americans rate the job market as poor, a more critical assessment than six months prior. This might be due to worries about the future, even though most currently employed individuals feel somewhat secure in their positions.

Job Market Trends

Most Americans believe finding the job they want would be difficult. When considering long-term job market trends, opinions are mixed, and the job market isn't seen as expanding. Americans, by a 4-to-1 margin, feel there are fewer good jobs available in their area compared to five years ago. This sentiment is shared even by those with job security.

Partisan Divide

As is typical with economic evaluations, partisanship affects views, with Republicans holding less negative views than Democrats on both the job market and the economy.

AI Impact Concerns

Amid ongoing discussions about AI's impact, Americans are generally skeptical and anticipate a negative effect on job availability in their fields over the next decade. This applies to both employed and unemployed individuals. Many also fear that the growth of AI and AI companies will negatively affect the overall U.S. economy. While this view is prevalent across education and income levels, it's slightly less pronounced among younger Americans. However, some believe AI could make available jobs easier to perform.

Overall Economic Sentiment

Overall views of the U.S. economy, which have been net-negative for years, have slightly decreased since the summer. As has been the trend, higher-income individuals report better personal financial situations than those with lower incomes, though majorities across all income levels report rising prices.

This CBS News/YouGov survey, conducted from September 30 to October 2, 2025, included 2,489 U.S. adults. The margin of error is ±2.2 points.