Uh-Oh: Barely any New Jobs, Dominated by Government Positions
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Key Takeaways
- The October jobs report, showing only 12,000 jobs added, fans the flames of voter discontent.
- Americans are frustrated with Democratic leadership as abysmal job numbers are worsened by data showing most jobs are government or for foreign-born workers.
- Across party lines, voters are discouraged and distraught over rising costs, a tough job market, and lowered quality of life.
Our Methodology
Demographics
All Voters
Sample Size
7,500
Geographical Breakdown
National
Time Period
3 Days
MIG Reports leverages EyesOver technology, employing Advanced AI for precise analysis. This ensures unparalleled precision, setting a new standard. Find out more about the unique data pull for this article.
The October 2024 jobs report only inflames concerns about the economy as a central election issue. The report, which revealed only 12,000 jobs added, fell drastically short of the 100,000 expected. This also comes after multiple reports were revised down, including nearly one million from April last year to March of this year.
The biggest story of the week was the jobs report:
— David Sacks (@DavidSacks) November 4, 2024
October: 12k new jobs when 100k expected. Job growth negative if govt excluded.
September: 254k revised down to 223k (-31k).
August: 159k revised down to 78k (-81k).
Instead they got us focused on a fake poll.
Many also point out that what little growth there is, comes from government job growth and foreign-born worker growth. The impact of immigration on employment continues to anger Americans who struggle every day to pay their bills.
This is why so many Americans could give 2 💩 about “celebrity endorsements.”
— Allison Dyer (@3rdGener) November 4, 2024
“How dare you, get on TV and tell me who is the morally superior candidate? When’s the last time you had to put back socks at Walmart, because you can’t afford to buy them for yourself and your… https://t.co/toKZYWVcJt pic.twitter.com/j9lbDd0ZPB
Election Implications and Future Projections
The current economic situation places job growth and employment policies at the forefront of the electoral landscape. As job data continues to underperform, voters want leadership that will practically improve their lives.
Given strong disapproval among Independents and center-right voters, the jobs report likely pushes people vote for Trump. Many who are in essential swing states appear ready to shift support away from Harris and pull the lever for Republicans.
- Swing Voters and Independents: Approximately 60% of swing voters are voicing frustration with the administration’s job creation record.
- Calls for a Change: A majority of Americans say the country is heading in the wrong direction. They want private-sector-driven policies over government expansion.
- MIG Reports Data: When the Oct. jobs report was released, discussion volume spiked while sentiment dropped from 46% to 40%.
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Disillusionment with Job Growth
October’s weak job creation figure of 12,000—a substantial drop from expectations—causes anger and disappointment. Compounding the issue, job data for previous months is consistently revised downward, with September's jobs adjusted from 254,000 to 223,000 and August’s from 159,000 to 78,000.
These ever-weakening numbers drive deflated emotions about the economy under Biden-Harris, where “Bidenomics” is often cited as to blame.
Top Discussion Points
- Dismal Numbers: Only 12,000 new jobs were created in October, marking the lowest monthly growth since 2020.
- Private Sector Decline: Excluding government jobs, job growth was negative, intensifying frustrations at the Democratic focus on expanding public sector roles.
- Manufacturing Losses: October saw a loss of 46,000 manufacturing jobs, a statistic voters interpret as a sign of economic decline rather than growth.
Voters widely view these trends as indicative of a stalled economy, with many drawing contrasts to the “Trump boom” years. They say job creation was stronger and more favorably distributed across private sectors.
Many also complain that, even when they have work and increasing pay, their quality of life is decreasing because of inflation. This disappointment and desperation are driving people to decry the last four years—a point which the Harris campaign is forced to embrace.
Tim Walz is right. We can’t afford four more years of this! pic.twitter.com/SP9NPUmSeE
— TheLizVariant (@TheLizVariant) September 29, 2024
Government vs. Private Sector Job Growth
Americans are particularly angry about the makeup of job growth. Government employment overwhelmingly accounts for the pitiable growth numbers, which many see as unsustainable and “non-productive.” Voters say expanding government jobs does not stimulate the economy or boost GDP, which they view as the true engine of economic resilience.
The contrast in campaign platforms also becomes stark as Harris’s flagship economic contribution is more government workers while Trump has promised to appoint Elon Musk to decimate government bloat in a Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Who else thinks Elon Musk should cut 80% of the Government Jobs when Trump is Elected ? pic.twitter.com/Kcyi9t97fk
— Marjorie Taylor Greene Press Release (Parody) (@MTGrepp) October 19, 2024
Top Discussion Points
- Government Dependence: Most new jobs are government, a fact voters feel props up employment numbers without improving economic conditions.
- Private Sector Struggles: With manufacturing and other private industries shedding jobs, voters feel job creation is artificial, lacking the dynamism required for sustainable growth.
For many, this trend signals an economy increasingly dependent on government intervention. Voters worry continuing in this direction will stifle private sector vitality and limit opportunities for recovery, ultimately worsening quality of life.
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Immigration and Job Competition
The issue of immigration adds to voter ire. More and more voters believe lack of border control contributes directly to job disadvantages for American citizens. They say prioritizing employment opportunities for American-born workers should be a top focus, rather than policies that increase labor market competition.
Top Discussion Points
- Foreign-Born Workers: Many of the jobs added have gone to foreign-born workers, resulting in a net loss for American-born workers.
- American First: There is a strong sentiment that labor efforts should focus on hiring American citizens first to stabilize the job market for citizens.
Americans increasingly see poor border policies as a job competition issue but also emblematic widespread economic mismanagement. As the workforce grows through immigration, many worry American workers will bear the brunt of stagnant job growth.
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Ideological and Political Reactions
Despite the dismal economic signals brought on by the Biden-Harris administration, there are still clear partisan divides. For conservatives, Democratic policies are synonymous with heavy-handed government control, tax hikes, and regulatory expansion.
Voters who lean right overwhelmingly see the solution as returning to the economic policies of the Trump era. They want American worker jobs, tax cuts, deregulation, and reduced reliance on government roles. Many also support Trump’s tariffs plan.
Top Discussion Points
- Free-Market Advocacy: Americans want private-sector job creation through deregulation and minimal government intervention.
- Economy Concerns: Fears about inflation, increased taxes, and a lack of opportunities have driven some Democrats and Independents toward Trump.
Disillusionment is not confined to conservatives and MAGA voters. Traditional Democratic voters and many Independents are voicing dissatisfaction. Concerns over Harris’s role in worsening inflation, combined with poor job reports, lead some former Democratic supporters to reconsider their loyalties.
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