Optimism for U.S. job market at all-time high in Gallup poll

May 21 (UPI) -- Optimism among Americans about finding high quality jobs has reached its highest level in 17 years, a Gallup survey said Monday.

Asked if now is a good or bad time to find a "quality job," 67 percent answered it's a good time -- the highest percentage since Gallup began asking in 2001.

Before President Donald Trump's administration, the figure never exceeded 50 percent. When former President Barack Obama took office in 2009, the figure was 13 percent, although that figure nearly quadrupled during his eight years in office.

Of those with no college education, 62 percent said now's a good time to find a quality job. Among those with college educations, 68 percent agreed. The answer was the same among 52 percent of those with household incomes under $30,000, 66 percent with incomes between $30,000 and $75,000 and 73 percent with incomes over $75,000.

Seventy-one percent of males and 69 percent of females voiced optimism.

Trump, whose administration has seen economic growth in the last 16 months, appears to get credit for the greater optimism.

Gallup said just 27 percent of Republicans thought it was a good time to seek a quality job in the three months before Trump was elected. The 90-day average for February, March and April 2017 rose to 60 percent -- and 82 percent in March, April and May of this year.

Among Democrats, the average moved from 54 in mid 2016 to 47 percent during the first three months of the Trump administration. It's at 53 percent this year.

Gallup said many Republicans credit Trump for the gains, while many Democrats say moves made by Obama created the conditions for prosperity.

Gallup questioned 1,024 U.S. adults in all 50 U.S. states. The margin of error is four percentage points.