The Future - Spring 2004

From the perspective of state residents in spring of 2004, Wisconsin continues to grapple with serious economic and job issues. Job security, job training, and economic development are all important components in the economic mix and citizens would like to see more of all of these. Health care costs continue to worry respondents. At the same time, people are satisfied with the quality of public education and government services. People want more job opportunities, especially for young people. Yet, people remain optimistic about their futures. Two out of five state residents think that things will get better for them in the next year, and one in ten thinks things will get worse.
 

Do you think things will get better or remain the same for you in the next year? More than eight in ten state residents expect their personal situation to get better or remain the same in the next year.
What makes Wisconsin a special place to live and work?* In spite of the fact that fewer than half of state residents think things in Wisconsin are on the right track, half of state residents describe Wisconsin as a special place. The vast majority would describe Wisconsin as having a strong commitment to the environment, a strong farming community, very good public schools, and good local public services.
Are we on the right track now? How do things look for you in the future? Younger respondents are more optimistic than their older counterparts. A solid majority of 18- to 34- year-olds think Wisconsin is on the right track, and almost two thirds of them think their personal situation will improve during the next year.