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Survey: As state economy rises, concerns over job loss, foreclosure decline

 
Published Sept. 16, 2014

An improving state economy shows Floridians are less stressed over job security and the threat of home foreclosure, two onerous pressure points on consumers in recent years, says the latest installment of the Sunshine State survey released Tuesday.

Focusing on economic matters, the survey found that the No. 1 concern, job loss and unemployment, was almost halved between 2012 and 2014. That indicates Florida's economy is recovering from the recession and average people are feeling more confident in the job market.

Over the same period, Florida's unemployment rate fell from 8.9 percent in June 2012 to 6.2 percent in June 2014.

The survey also found that concerns over home foreclosures also fell by more than 10 percentage points in the past two years, an indicator that Floridians are not as concerned with the housing market now as they have been in the past.

Concerns over undocumented workers and residents also rated high, said the survey — a joint effort of the University of South Florida and Nielsen — even though this was the first time the issue was offered as a response. This finding reflects heightened awareness of and concern about this issue nationally, the survey said.

Worries about damages to the environment negatively impacting the state's economy have doubled since the 2012 survey, from 3 percent to 6 percent. Heightened environmental activism has enhanced awareness of the linkage.

The next installment of Sunshine State survey results, out next week, will focus on education.