A new national survey of 1,000 U.S. adults finds that two-thirds of Americans surveyed view Donald Trump’s recent firing of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) chief as inappropriate political interference. According to data from MyPerfectResume, a premium resume-building service, the Trust in Jobs Data report found that two-thirds (66%) disapprove of the decision, compared to 34% who approve.
The BLS is responsible for producing the monthly U.S. jobs report, and the firing has renewed public debate over whether labor statistics should be insulated from presidential control. Eighty-seven percent of respondents say jobs data should be handled by an independent, non-political agency rather than by the President.
The survey also reveals deep skepticism about the integrity of jobs data. Nearly three-quarters of those surveyed (74%) believe U.S. jobs data has been manipulated for political gain, and only 51% say they trust the accuracy of government jobs reports like the unemployment rate.
“This data shows just how sensitive Americans are to any perception of political influence over economic reporting,” said Jasmine Escalera, Career Expert at MyPerfectResume®. “When trust in core indicators like the jobs report erodes, it affects how both job seekers and employers make decisions.”
Key Findings
Reaction to BLS Chief’s Firing
- 66% disapprove of Donald Trump’s firing of the BLS chief.
- 34% approve of the decision.
Strong Support for Independence
- 87% believe an independent, non-political agency should handle jobs data.
- 54% want full independence from presidential control.
- 33% support some presidential oversight.
- Only 12% believe the President should maintain full authority.
Presidential Authority Over Data Agencies
- 59% say the President should not be allowed to fire the head of federal data agencies (like the BLS or Census Bureau).
- 41% believe the President should have that power.
Skepticism About Data Integrity
- 74% believe U.S. jobs data has been manipulated for political gain.
- Only 51% say they trust the accuracy of government jobs data (9% trust it completely, 42% mostly trust it).
- 49% say they do not trust the data (30% mostly distrust it, 19% do not trust it at all).
Photo credit: NLM Photo/Shutterstock
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