Few in U.S. See Guns, Immigration as Nation's Top Problems

The economy and jobs continue to be named as most important U.S. problems

by Frank Newport

PRINCETON, NJ -- Few Americans mention guns or immigration as the most important problems facing the nation today, despite the current attention lawmakers in Washington are giving to these issues. The economy still dominates as the top concern, followed by jobs and dissatisfaction with the general way in which Congress and the government work.

These data, from an April 4-7 survey, underscore the prominence of economic issues in Americans' minds, even as the economy continues its recovery from the recessionary depths of 2008.
In terms of specific economic issues, Americans most frequently name the economy in general (24%), jobs/unemployment (18%), and the deficit (11%). The percentage mentioning each of these economic issues is in the same broad range as has been the case each month this year so far, although a higher 20% mentioned the deficit as the nation's top problem in January.
From a longer-term perspective, top-of-mind mentions of these economic issues are down significantly from their five-year highs. A high of 58% mentioned the economy as the nation's top problem in November 2008, and 39% named jobs as the No. 1 issue in September 2011.