Jobs in Texas, Nation Worry Residents

The lack of jobs in Texas and the state of the economy as a whole are worrying residents.

The University of Texas and The Texas Tribune recently released their annual poll, which found that the national economy tops the list of residents' concerns. The economy as a whole, unemployment and jobs, and federal spending and the national debt were mentioned more than any other worry.

Those three items together accounted to 53 percent of the worries mentioned by respondents. Healthcare, along with political corruption and leadership were the only other two issues mentioned by more than 10 percent of respondents.

When it comes to Texas specifically, 19 percent of poll respondents said they were worried about immigration, while jobs and unemployment, the economy, and border security were the only other issues mentioned by at least 10 percent of respondents.

National issues that were previously high on the list but seemed to be missing from this year's poll include gay marriage, taxes, gas prices and welfare. Local issues that were previously popular but lacking this year include abortion, transportation, insurance rates and taxes.

The number of respondents who think the state is on the right track is about even with those who think the state is on the wrong track, with each side coming in at 38 or 39 percent. About 32 percent of respondents think the country is headed in the right direction, while 59 percent say the country is on the wrong track.

Only 24 percent of respondents think the country is in better economic condition than this time last year, while 59 percent think things have gotten worse. About 17 percent said their personal finances are better off, 39 percent said things are the same and 43 percent considered themselves "somewhat" or "a lot" worse off than last year.

Lastly, 43 percent of respondents said the federal government is making it harder for the country to get out of the recession, while 28 percent said the government is helping. Another 43 percent said the state government's efforts are not hindering or helping the improvement of the economy.