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May 2017 • The PCB Magazine 73 getting other jobs that are paying them more money. Goldman: Hmm. I suppose it's a no-brainer for them. We have to work on changing that. Hammesfahr: I can understand you're not go- ing to take a lower paying job out of the good- ness of your heart most of the time, especially with student loans to pay off Goldman: Unless you're really, really intrigued by it. Matt, thanks so much for talking with me today. This has been very interesting. Hammesfahr: Sure. Thank you. PCB After measuring increasing anxiety for more than a year, the Economic Anxiety Index has de- clined significantly, according to the latest Market- place-Edison Research Poll. The decrease in anxi- ety reflected in the poll is due to a variety of fac- tors, including Americans' decreasing fear of job loss in the next 12 months, declining fear of being able to pay for monthly expenses, and an overall improved feeling of financial security. Nearing President Trump's first 100 days in office, the Marketplace-Edison Research Poll also gauges approval of the president's handling of the economy and measures the economic policy pri- orities of Americans. Using responses to the poll, Marketplace and Edison Research created the Economic Anxiety In- dex, a number on a scale from 0-100 that is cal- culated from answers to a battery of questions. The Economic Anxiety Index describes just how stressed out people feel about their personal finan- cial situation. The higher the number, the more economic stress someone is feeling. Key findngs include: • After reporting ever-increasing anxiety the year before the election, the Economic Anxiety Index showed a significant decrease for the first time • The Economic Anxiety Index is now 32, down 11% from October 2016 • Americans are less worried about losing their jobs, paying their mortgage or rent, and saving for retirement than they were six months ago • Despite the reduced economic anxiety, peo- ple are very concerned about healthcare; it is the number one economic issue worrying Americans • Nearly three-quarters of Americans feel the gov- ernment in Washington has forgotten them, and this sentiment cuts across party lines • Nearly 100 days after taking office, President Trump's economic approval rating is 43% • Most Americans support passing a large infra- structure bill, a policy that Trump campaigned on and one that many Democratic politicians sup- port, but one that has not been addressed in the administration's first 100 days. Americans' Economic Anxiety Declined in the First Post-Election Marketplace A CONVERSATION WITH AN INDUSTRY TWENTY-SOMETHING