Joblessness, government dysfunction and the state of the economy in general are the top problems facing the United States, according to
Gallup's monthly survey.
The survey showed that the top national problem Americans see is jobs/employment. Those regarding it as the biggest problem grew from 14 percent in April to 20 percent in May.
The second largest problem in the United States is dissatisfaction with government — including "poor leadership, corruption or abuse of power" — at 20 percent in April and 19 percent in May.
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The third most cited problem in the United States in Gallup's May poll is the state of the economy in general, at 17 percent versus 16 percent in April.
Other major problems cited by Americans in the May poll were healthcare (11 percent), federal debt (8 percent), ethics (6 percent) and education (5 percent.)
"Americans are about equally likely to name unemployment and dissatisfaction with government as the most important problems facing the U.S., with the economy in general following closely behind. These issues have ranked at the top of the most important problem list since the beginning of 2014," Gallup noted
"Despite recent congressional budget compromises, nearly one in five Americans still cite government itself as the nation's top problem. And even though U.S. workers report an increase in net hiring, unemployment and jobs remain at the top of the list."
Democrats are most likely to name jobs or unemployment as the country's most important problem, whereas Republicans' top response is the economy more generally.
"Democrats, Republicans and independents are about equally likely to cite dissatisfaction with government."
Only 25 percent of Americans are satisfied with the direction of the country, according to the
poll. The May poll showed those satisfied with the way things are in the U.S. has hovered at about the same level so far in 2014 — with the flip side, of course, being that 74 percent of Americans are not satisfied.
Gallup reported that Democrats (35 percent) and independents (24 percent) continue to be more satisfied with the state of the nation than Republicans (15 percent). The survey research firm said Americans' level of satisfaction with the direction of the country is influenced by whether the occupant of the White House is in their party.
Jobless rates fell in nearly all U.S. states last month, and half the states now have rates below 6 percent,
The Associated Press reported.
However, the AP added: "Hiring wasn't the whole reason rates fell in many states: Fewer Americans also looked for work. The government doesn't count those out of work as unemployed unless they are actively hunting for jobs."
The labor force participation rate, which gauges the share of Americans older than 16 who are actively looking for work or who have a job, fell to 62.8 percent last month, matching its January level, which was the lowest since 1978, according to
U.S. News & World Report.
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