A poll released Tuesday said most Wisconsinites fear for the
future of the local and national economy, and a recent General Motors
announcement of layoffs in the next two months at the Janesville plant
confirmed those fears for about 750 people.

The Badger Poll, conducted by the University of Wisconsin
Survey Center, indicated the majority of Wisconsin residents said the economy
and jobs were the most important problems facing the state. According to the
poll, 66 percent also think the state is in bad times economically.

Kathy Cramer Walsh, UW associate professor of political
science and faculty director of the Badger Poll, looks at why people feel the
way they do about the economy.

“It’s curious in that the poll says a lot of people feel
they are OK personally, but they are worried about the future,” Walsh said.

Cramer thinks perceptions of the economy depend on what
people see around them, but not necessarily how they are doing personally.

“People tend to answer how they think it is doing out there.
You can see in the results of the poll that they are not all that worried about
paying of their bills,” Cramer said. “They judge pretty independently of their
own pocketbooks.”

Although the poll was conducted before the GM announcement,
Walsh said seeing headlines about people in a nearby town losing their jobs
contributes to the fear.

Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Secretary
Roberta Gassman agrees that news like the GM announcement contributes to the
perception of the economy as weak and added that Gov. Jim Doyle has asked the
DWD to step in to help Janesville workers.

“The news is very disappointing. The governor has asked us
to take immediate steps so that we can help the people who are affected by
this,” Gassman said.  “We have been in
touch with the company and with the union, and we will meet with them in the
next two weeks to get information together.”

Doug Venable, director of economic development at the
Janesville Economic Development Agency, said with the GM closure there comes
some uncertainty about what some of the local suppliers to the plant will do.

Rock County has been working on diversifying the local
economy to areas other than just the GM plant, but Venable still hopes that GM
will consider the Janesville plant to make other car models in the future.

The poll found 91 percent of all respondents said gas prices
are extremely or quite problematic. Gas prices may also contribute to the
Janesville plant layoffs, due to the plant producing SUV lines, according to
Venable.

Gassman said these are challenging times but also pointed
out reasons for hope in the Wisconsin economy, if not the national economy.

“In Wisconsin we do continue to have employers
who are seeking skilled workers. Our exports have been growing dramatically,”
said Gassman. “I would encourage to work with job centers and technical
colleges if they feel they need assistance with any work or career goals they
may have.”