Texas voters remain confident in the state’s economy despite widespread concern about Texas’ overall future, according to a new poll from Texas 2036.
The survey found 68% of registered voters are extremely or very concerned about the future of the state. At the same time, 57% expect Texas to have the stronger economy over the next four years, compared with 21% who believe the rest of the country will perform better.
Voters were somewhat less positive when asked about their own experiences.
About 52% said Texas’ economic growth has benefited them personally, while 33% said it has not. Looking ahead, 59% said they are confident there will be good opportunities for people like them to use their skills, earn a living, and get ahead. Another 34% said they are not confident.
Texas 2036 says an analysis of federal labor data shows the state continuing to outperform the nation in job creation, but growth varies significantly depending on location.
According to the organization, 52% of Texans live in a county where employment either declined or remained essentially flat during the previous year.
The poll also found strong support for tying education more closely to workforce outcomes.
Seventy-nine percent of respondents said Texas should change its approach to the senior year of high school by adding more focus and rigor to prepare students for college and careers. Eighty-five percent supported requiring the state to publicly report whether money spent on education and job-training programs ultimately leads to good-paying jobs.
Texas lawmakers have taken steps in recent years to tie education funding and programs more closely to workforce outcomes. House Bill 8, approved in 2023, changed the state’s community college funding system to place greater emphasis on student outcomes, including credentials, transfers, and completion of dual-credit programs.
Additional changes approved in 2025 require regional labor-demand assessments and more detailed employment and wage data intended to help schools and colleges better align programs with workforce needs.
Texas 2036 says its analysis found a 22.3% increase in credentials awarded during the first two years under the new community college funding system, including a 26% increase in credentials in high-demand fields.
The Texas 2036 voter poll was conducted Aug. 22-26 by Baselice & Associates and included 1,369 interviews with registered Texas voters. The results were weighted to represent registered voters statewide and have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.
