The poll also revealed other evidence of American financial anxiety: Just 30% of respondents felt they would be able to find a good job if they wanted to, while only 40% said they would be able to pay an unexpected $1,000 expense.
Financial anxiety changed depending on the respondents’ age and income group. For example, younger Americans were more confident than elders in their ability to find a good job if they needed one, while older Americans were more confident in their ability to cover an unexpected expense. Respondents with a household income under $50,000 were more likely to say that they would need to take on debt to cover a surprise $1,000 bill.
The poll was conducted via telephone from June 13-17 among 1,116 adults.