How 1,000 Americans Feel After the U.S. Election Results

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Discussing politics at work is often seen as a sensitive topic. However, with the 2024 U.S. election dominating headlines and conversations this year, its impact is hard to ignore.

To understand how employees feel about the new administration, we surveyed 1,000 working-age Americans and asked them how they feel about the job market under Trump.

Key takeaways from the U.S. Election Career Impact Survey

Two-thirds of Americans (65%) are optimistic about the Trump administration’s impact on their careers.
Gen Z (69%) is the most optimistic generation about the future under Trump.
Millennials are the most strongly optimistic generation, with 34% feeling very optimistic about the future.
Men (68%) are more optimistic about Republican leadership’s impact on their careers compared to women (61%).
72% of Southerners feel confident about the country’s direction post-election
51% of workers believe the new administration will improve tax incentives.
1 in 10 workers (12%) are considering leaving the U.S. following the election results.
38% of Gen Z workers have been asked about their political views by managers.
1 in 4 workers (25%) say having political conversations helped them bond with colleagues.

Americans are optimistic about the future under Trump

Our survey found that 2 in 3 Americans (65%) are optimistic about how the Trump administration will influence their career and job prospects, while 35% have doubts about the future.

When asked about their outlook on how the Trump administration might impact their careers, here’s what U.S. workers said:

31% are very optimistic
34% are optimistic
22% are pessimistic
13% are very pessimistic

Below, our team developed a heat map highlighting the most optimistic U.S. divisions. Green shows the most optimistic divisions, while grey indicates they remain optimistic but to a lesser degree:

69% of Gen Zers feel good about their post-election career prospects

Younger generations feel the most positive about the current political climate’s effect on their career. Gen Z (69%) is the most optimistic generation, while Millennials (67%) aren’t far behind.

Millennials also stand out as the most strongly optimistic, with one in three (34%) saying they feel very optimistic about the future. Meanwhile, Gen X (63%) and Baby Boomers (60%) show slightly lower levels of confidence.

Let’s see how the generations stack up:

Gen Z

28% say they’re very optimistic, and 41% are optimistic.
24% say they’re pessimistic, and 7% are very pessimistic.

Millennials

34% say they’re very optimistic, and 32% are optimistic.
22% say they’re pessimistic, and 12% are very pessimistic.

Gen X

28% say they’re very optimistic, and 35% are optimistic.
21% say they’re pessimistic, and 16% are very pessimistic.

Baby Boomers

27% say they’re very optimistic, and 32% are optimistic.
26% say they’re pessimistic, and 15% are very pessimistic.

68% of men give Republican leadership a thumbs up

Men and women view the Republican administration’s potential impact on their careers differently. Overall, men (67%) are more confident than women (61%) that Trump’s leadership will positively influence their professional futures.

The biggest divide appears at the extremes — men are more likely to feel strongly optimistic, while women report more intense pessimism:

Men

1 in 3 men (33%) say they’re very optimistic (20% more likely compared to women), and 34% are optimistic.
22% are pessimistic, and 11% say they’re very pessimistic.

Women

28% say they’re very optimistic, and 33% are optimistic.
23% are pessimistic, and 16% say they’re very pessimistic (being 45% more likely than men to feel this way about the post-election results).

Post-election confidence is highest in the South

Unsurprisingly, people’s feelings about Trump’s presidency vary across the U.S. But one thing is clear: Southerners are overwhelmingly the most optimistic, with 72% expressing confidence in what lies ahead.

Midwesterners come next at 65%, followed by Northeasterners at 60%. And while the West trails slightly at 58%, a majority there still feel positive about the country’s direction after the election. Here’s the breakdown by region:

South

40% say they’re very optimistic (the highest of all regions), and 32% are optimistic.
18% are pessimistic, and 10% say they’re very pessimistic.

Midwest

27% say they’re very optimistic, and 38% are optimistic.
21% are pessimistic, and 14% say they’re very pessimistic.

West

24% say they’re very optimistic, and 34% are optimistic.
28% are pessimistic, and 14% say they’re very pessimistic.

Northeast

27% say they’re very optimistic, and 33% are optimistic.
23% are pessimistic, and 17% say they’re very pessimistic.

1 in 10 workers are considering leaving the U.S.

For many workers, the 2024 election results are prompting them to rethink their future plans.

When asked how the post-election results have affected decisions about their future, U.S. workers revealed how likely they are to make certain changes. Here’s what they shared:

12% are considering moving out of the country.
20% plan to explore job opportunities in a different state.
35% aim to pursue further education or training.
23% are likely to switch industries or careers.
36% intend to seek remote or flexible work options.

4 in 10 Americans blame politics for causing workplace unrest

Political discussions are spilling into workplaces, and Americans are feeling the impact:

12% admit to faking political opinions to maintain their professional image.
14% have been asked about their political views by a supervisor or manager.
36% have felt uncomfortable during political conversations with colleagues.
1 in 4 workers (25%) say political talks have helped them form closer connections with coworkers.
2 in 3 workers (66%) have overheard coworkers discussing political topics.
36% have felt uncomfortable during political conversations with colleagues.
35% have witnessed workplace tensions rise because of political discussions.
13% report being treated unfairly because of their political views.

Managers are questioning Gen Z workers on their political views

Gen Z workers are navigating a more politicized workplace where they’re engaging actively in discussions — but also showing greater sensitivity than other generations.

Our survey found that 38% of Gen Z have been asked about their political views by a manager — more than double the rate for Millennials (17%) and around four times that of Gen X (10%) and Boomers (7%).

This heightened involvement comes with consequences:

46% of Gen Z report rising workplace tensions caused by political discussions, higher than 38% of Millennials and 32% of Gen X and Boomers.
45% of Gen Z feel uncomfortable during political conversations at work, compared to 35% of Millennials, 37% of Gen X, and 31% of Boomers.

Despite the challenges, political discussions do create opportunities for connection. And for Gen Z workers, sometimes these opportunities create pressure. Here’s what we discovered:

18% of Gen Z admit to faking political opinions to maintain professionalism, more than 11% of Millennials, 12% of Gen X, and 9% of Boomers.
35% of Gen Z have formed closer bonds with coworkers through political discussions, compared to 26% of Millennials, 24% of Gen X, and 21% of Baby Boomers.

Nearly 4 in 10 women say political talk at work makes them uncomfortable

Workplace politics affect men and women differently, with American women reporting more discomfort during political conversations at work and men facing greater pressure to conform or disclose their views. Here’s what the data shows:

34% of men report feeling uncomfortable during political conversations with colleagues, compared to 37% of women.
16% of men have been asked about their political views by a supervisor or manager, compared to 12% of women (making men 26% more likely to face such questioning).
13% of men admit to faking political opinions to maintain professionalism, compared to 10% of women.

39% of Southerners report rising workplace tensions over political discussions

In the South, workplace politics take on a unique dynamic. Nearly 1 in 5 managers (19%) in this region ask employees about their political views — more than double the rate in the Northeast (7%) and higher than in the West (15%) and Midwest (12%).

But these conversations don’t always lead to harmony. Here’s what we found:

39% of Southerners report that workplace tensions have happened because of political discussions, compared to 34% in the West, 33% in the Midwest, and 32% in the Northeast.
23% of Southerners say political conversations have brought them closer to coworkers, trailing behind the Midwest (30%), West (25%), and Northeast (24%).
14% of workers in the South and West say they feel pressured to fake their political opinions at work to maintain professionalism, compared to 9% in the Northeast and 8% in the Midwest.

Improving tax incentives is the biggest hope

When asked how the U.S. election might shape the job market, Americans are mostly optimistic about tax incentives.

More than half (51%) believe tax incentives will improve, while 30% disagree.

Job security came in second, with 46% of U.S. workers saying they expect job security to improve, while 29% believe it could take a hit.

Career advancement followed closely behind, with 39% of Americans anticipating more opportunities and 23% predicting fewer of them.

Workers also shared their views on these critical areas of the job market:

Retirement plans: 42% expect improvement, while 33% expect a negative impact.
Unemployment: 40% expect it to decrease, while 33% expect it to increase.

Here are the areas of the job market where workers held more mixed opinions:

Minimum wage: 35% expect it to be raised, while 30% expect things to stay the same.
Workplace flexibility: 30% expect progress, while 25% expect less flexible work arrangements.
Health insurance: 36% expect improvement, while 35% expect a negative impact.
Paid leave: 29% expect better policies, while 28% expect setbacks.
Workers’ protection: 34% expect improvement and 34% expect a decline.

Workers generally showed less confidence in these areas:

Mental health support: 26% expect progress, while 31% expect it to worsen.
Diversity and inclusion policies: 27% expect improvement, while 33% predict challenges ahead.

Workers expect tax cuts to be a top priority

Our survey shows that U.S. workers are clear on what they want the next administration to tackle. At the top of their list is reducing taxes for working people, followed by making health insurance more affordable and raising wages.

Here’s what Americans believe should take priority (from highest to lowest):

Cutting taxes for working people
Making health insurance more affordable and accessible
Raising the minimum wage and overtime pay
Strengthening retirement and pension plans
Reducing unemployment and creating more job opportunities
Supporting mental health initiatives in the workplace
Expanding workplace flexibility (e.g., remote work, flexible hours)
Promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace
Preparing for the impacts of job automation and AI

Conclusion

Overall, Americans seem optimistic about the future, with many confident in the new administration’s ability to address key job market concerns.

With U.S. workers looking forward to an eventful and dynamic period ahead, here’s hoping their expectations align with the changes to come.

Methodology

The survey was launched on November 15, 2024, and targeted a sample of 1,000 participants. To qualify, respondents were required to be currently employed as full-time workers. The survey ensured a balanced representation across various demographics, including gender and age groups, to accurately reflect the diversity of full-time US workers.

The data was analyzed using Python Pandas from the raw data provided by Pollfish and visualized in Google Sheets.

To minimize bias, Pollfish uses Random Device Engagement (RDE) to ensure a fair and organic selection process. For further details on Pollfish’s methodology, please visit their website or contact ethan@resumegenius.com.

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Eva Chan, CPRW

Career Expert & Senior Digital PR Writer (CPRW)

Eva Chan is a Senior Digital PR Writer and Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) at Resume Genius. Born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia, Eva is passionate about researching and discussing the ever-changing career space and its latest trends, and channels this enthusiasm into supporting professionals of all experience levels so they stand out in a competitive job market. Eva graduated from the University of British Columbia with a bachelor’s degree in English. Eva's insights and career advice have earned recognition from leading platforms including CNBC, Harvard Business Review, The Globe and Mail, Forbes, Newsweek, and Entrepreneur. For any media-related queries or for a future quote, you can reach her at [eva] @ [resumegenius.com] or connect with her via LinkedIn. Please note that we don’t accept any guest posts.

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