NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--According to a GfK Verein global study on the challenges of nations, unemployment leads the list of concerns among US adults, with health service and education policy also ranking high here.
Among the 1,000 US adults surveyed, 23% listed unemployment as a major worry – the highest for any concern in the US, but still slightly less than the overall global level of concern (30%) about joblessness. Despite positive developments, the US labor market has not yet completely recovered from the 2008 recession.
In addition, 18% of Americans ranked economic stability as a significant problem. Other leading concerns in the US are politics and government (mentioned by 15%), health service (13%), and poverty (8%).
Despite its troubles, the US is among the least-worried nations; only the Netherlands and Sweden had lower levels of overall concern.
For the new report, GfK Verein – a non-profit organization for the promotion of market research and the parent company of GfK – interviewed almost 20,000 people around the world. Globally, the top concerns were unemployment (cited by 30%), health service (17%), and education policy (13%). Three concerns tied for fourth place, at 12% each: crime; price/purchasing power development; and politics/government.
About the study
The “Challenges of the Nations” study comprises 17 countries globally – including six countries new this year. The participants in Europe are Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Poland, Great Britain, Belgium, Russia, the Netherlands, and Sweden. Turkey and Switzerland are included for the first time this year. Additionally, the African continent is represented for the first time by South Africa and Nigeria, while North and South America are represented by the USA and Brazil, respectively.
A total of 19,767 people were surveyed as their country representatives; their answers represent the social, economic, and political concerns of more than a billion people. In order to obtain a truly global viewpoint, the results from the individual countries have been compiled – in weighted form – according to the respective proportion of their population.
About GfK Verein
The GfK Verein was established in 1934 as a non-profit organization for the promotion of market research. Its membership consists of approximately 600 companies and individuals. The purpose of the Verein is to develop innovative research methods in close cooperation with academic institutions, to promote the training and further education of market researchers, to observe the structures and developments in society, the economy and politics that play a key role in private consumption, and to research their effects on consumers. Survey results are made available to the membership free of charge. The GfK Verein is a shareholder in GfK SE.
About GfK
GfK is the trusted source of relevant market and consumer information that enables its clients to make smarter decisions. More than 13,000 market research experts combine their passion with GfK’s long-standing data science experience. This allows GfK to deliver vital global insights matched with local market intelligence from more than 100 countries. By using innovative technologies and data sciences, GfK turns big data into smart data, enabling its clients to improve their competitive edge and enrich consumers’ experiences and choices.
For more information, please visit www.GfK.com or follow GfK on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GfK_en
