Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World

Latinos Express Growing Confidence In Personal Finances, Nation’s Direction

III. Satisfaction with the Country’s Direction

Latinos are more satisfied than the U.S. general public with the nation’s direction. According to the Pew Hispanic survey, half (51%) of Latinos say they are satisfied with the nation’s direction while 43% say they are dissatisfied. By contrast, among all Americans, a sizable majority (64%) is dissatisfied with the country’s direction and only 31% express satisfaction.

The gap in sentiment between Latinos and the general public regarding the country’s direction has grown since 2008. Then 25% of Latinos said they were satisfied with the nation’s direction while 19% of the general public said the same. However, since then Latinos’ assessments of the country’s direction have improved faster than the general public’s assessments.

Among Hispanics, the foreign born express greater satisfaction with the country’s direction than those who are native born. By a margin of 57% to 36%, Latino immigrants say they are satisfied with the way things are going. Native-born Hispanics are more divided, as just 45% say they are satisfied and 49% are dissatisfied.

Views of the nation’s direction differ by educational status as well. Hispanics with less than a high school diploma are more likely to be satisfied with the nation’s direction than Hispanics with higher levels of educational attainment. Nearly six-in-ten (59%) Hispanics without a high school diploma say this, while about half (49%) of those with a high school diploma and 45% of those with at least some college education say they are satisfied with the country’s direction.

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