<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>ANALYSIS OF ECONOMIC TRENDS AMONG TRUMP VOTERS.</strong> A <a href="https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/careers/americans-without-college-degrees-are-having-one-of-the-best-job-markets-in-years-5f37d00e?mod=hp_lead_pos1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">new analysis</a> in the <em>Wall Street Journal</em> indicates that President <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/donald-trump/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Donald Trump</a> has provided economic benefits to voters who supported him during the <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/2024-elections/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2024 election</a>.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>The <em>Wall Street Journal</em> headline</strong> and story synopsis state: “Americans Without College Degrees Are Having One of the Best Job Markets in Years; Unemployment among younger workers who didn’t go to college has rarely been lower in recent decades. It is the opposite story for college graduates.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>The article</strong> is based on research conducted by the <a href="https://www.burningglassinstitute.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Burning Glass Institute</a>. Analysts found that “the unemployment rate for workers ages 22 to 34 who never graduated from college” is at one of its lowest points in the last 20 years. Meanwhile, workers with a bachelor’s degree or higher are facing increasing challenges in securing good jobs. “Just as job hunters without degrees are having one of their best runs, those with college educations are having one of their worst,” according to the article.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Historically,</strong> analysts noted, the trends for degreed and nondegreed workers tended to move in the same direction. Currently, they have diverged, with nondegreed workers improving while degreed workers encounter difficulties.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>It’s important to note</strong> that those with college degrees are not at a significant disadvantage compared to those without. A degree still holds value. <a href="https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/careers/americans-without-college-degrees-are-having-one-of-the-best-job-markets-in-years-5f37d00e?mod=hp_lead_pos1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The <em>Wall Street Journal</em> reports</a> that for workers aged 25 to 54 with a college degree, the unemployment rate averaged 2.7% in the last year. For those with some college but no degree, it was 3.6%, and for those with no college education, it was 4.7%. Thus, the narrative is not that having no degree is better than having one; rather, the economic circumstances for nondegreed workers are improving more rapidly.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Turning to politics,</strong> a significant aspect of Trump’s support comes from voters without a college degree. His rise has led to numerous discussions on the “educational divide” in politics, where educational status increasingly influences political affiliations. Voters without degrees tend to support Trump, while those with degrees lean towards his opponents.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>According to exit polls</strong> from the <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-elections/exit-polls" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2024 election</a>, Trump secured 62% of the vote among those who never attended college, 51% among those with some college but no degree, and 57% among those with an associate’s degree. In total, Trump received 56% of the vote from individuals without a bachelor’s degree, who comprised over half of the electorate.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Conversely,</strong> then-Vice President Kamala Harris won 53% of the vote among those with a bachelor’s degree and 59% among those with advanced degrees.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Trump’s support</strong> from less educated Americans has been evident since the beginning of his political career, starting with the Iowa caucuses in January 2016. A <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/trump-overwhelmingly-leads-rivals-in-support-from-less-educated-americans" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">headline</a> from PBS noted that “Trump overwhelmingly leads rivals in support from less educated Americans.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Years later,</strong> the narrative remains: a candidate appeals to a specific group, wins their support, and subsequently looks after their interests. In this case, Trump was elected with the backing of voters without college degrees, and their economic conditions have improved during his administration.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>However,</strong> the situation is complex. There are significant economic and social challenges, particularly concerning the state of the nation’s colleges and universities, which many argue are prohibitively expensive and raise questions about the value of a college education. Despite this, the belief in the importance of college education remains strong in American culture, leading to an increase in graduates even as AI technology replaces some traditional job roles.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Additionally,</strong> individuals without college degrees are facing challenges with lower wages while contending with rising prices for essential goods, similar to those with degrees. This has contributed to a decline in Trump’s approval ratings among noncollege voters who initially supported him.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>A recent</strong> <a href="https://static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2026/07/fox_july-17-20-2026_national_cross-tabs_july-22-release.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Fox News poll</a> from the summer indicated that Trump had a 43% approval rating and a 57% disapproval rating among white voters without a college degree, contrasting with the results of the 2024 exit polls.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>This trend</strong> may impact Republicans' efforts to maintain control of the House in the upcoming midterm elections. Nonetheless, on a fundamental measure of economic health, job availability, the situation for noncollege-educated individuals appears to be improving under the presidency they supported, potentially providing a stable base of support for Trump during the latter part of his term.</p>