Poll Finds Majority of New Jerseyans Give Negative Ratings to State and National Economy

Those surveyed say public schools, social services have the biggest influence on the taxes they pay

New Jerseyans give subpar ratings to both the state and national economy, though they are more positive about New Jersey than the nation, as a whole, according to the latest Rutgers-Eagleton Poll in partnership with New Jersey Organization for a Better State political action committee.

New Jerseyans surveyed in a poll earlier this month are generally negative about the U.S. economy: 41% describe it as “poor,” 39% say “only fair” (up 11 percentage points since November 2024) and 18% “good” (down 9 points); less than 1% say the national economy is doing “excellent.”

Views on the national economy are net negative across the board, including across partisan lines. A majority of Republicans (62%) rate the national economy as either “only fair” or “poor,” though they do so to a lesser extent than Democrats (88%) or independents (82%). Republicans (37%) are three times as likely as Democrats (11%) and more than twice as likely as independents (15%) to rate the economy as “good.” Half or more of Democrats, Black residents, Hispanic residents, 18- to 34-year-olds, and those in households making less than $50,000 annually specifically rate the national economy as “poor.”

Residents are slightly more positive about New Jersey’s economy, though still negative overall:  26% rate it as “poor,” 37% “only fair,” 31% “good,” and 1% “excellent.” Views on the state economy have changed little since polled in the fall.

Partisan differences are reversed on the state economy compared with the national economy. Democrats (45%) are about twice as likely as Republicans (21%) and one-and-a-half times as likely as independents (slightly more than 28%) to rate New Jersey’s economy as “excellent” or “good,” and while slightly more than half of Democrats rate it as “only fair” or “poor” (53%), two-thirds of independents (66%) and three-quarters of Republicans (78%) feel the same.

“It’s not surprising that we see ratings of the state economy unimproved and ratings on the national economy even more negative, given the current political and economic climate,” said Ashley Koning, an assistant research professor and director of the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling (ECPIP) at Rutgers University–New Brunswick. “While views are colored by partisanship – with Republicans more positive about Trump’s economy and Democrats more positive about Murphy’s – partisans of all stripes sense the economy is not in great shape. The economy is sure to be at the forefront of this year’s governor’s race and next year’s midterms.”

When it comes to opinions on the biggest driver of taxes state residents pay in New Jersey, New Jerseyans coalesce around a couple of major state expenses. Regarding property taxes, 48% say one’s local public school district has the most influence on how much someone pays; no other response comes close. Another 9% say county-level government services; 8% say pensions for local government employees; 7% say local law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical services; 6% say road maintenance; 5% social programs and services; 2% local libraries; parks, and other infrastructure; 4% say something else and 12% are unsure.

As for what determines the amount of income tax one pays in New Jersey, residents are divided between healthcare and social services such as Medicaid, public health initiatives, and other social programs (24%) and public education (21%). Eight percent say property tax relief; state police, corrections facilities, and emergency services; and transportation and infrastructure. Five percent say municipal and county aid. Another 5% say public employee pensions, 2% say something else, and 19% are unsure.

“A majority of citizens in New Jersey are worried about the state’s economy and the taxes they pay. That is a very alarming because it also makes businesses concerned about investment and stability in the marketplace,” said Tony Bawidamann, chairman of the New Jersey Organization for a Better State (NEW JOBS) political action committee. “I think moving forward there is a lot of work to be done, as the state’s business leaders need to work closely with elected leaders to create public policy that makes it easier for businesses grow and flourish here. Creating a positive business climate will result in a stronger economy that builds consumer confidence and attracts business to locate here.”

Results are from a statewide poll of 1,058 adults contacted through the probability-based Rutgers-Eagleton/SSRS Garden State Panel from April 1 to April 10. The full sample has a margin of error of +/- 4.1 percentage points.