People in Jersey with financial struggles on the rise

More people in Jersey are finding it harder to cope financially than last year.

Of those who answered the Jersey Opinions and Lifestyle Survey, 35% said it was difficult, compared to 31% in 2023.

The survey asked people for their views on issues ranging from the cost of living to health and wellbeing.

It also found people who have lived longer in Jersey trusted the States less than those who had moved to the island in the past five years.

Statistics Jersey said the survey collected “detailed information on a wide range of topics” to help share the “opinions and behaviours of islanders” while providing a “better understanding of social issues”.

Areas covered in the report included cost of living, health and accommodation.

More than half of households (53%) living in social rental accommodation said they found it difficult to meet the cost of their housing.

Just under three-quarters (74%) of adults described their health as good or very good, which was similar to 2022.

About a third (32%) scored their anxiety level as high, which was an increase on 2023 (28%).

Accommodation was also a key talking point, with many raising the issue of rising costs.

Just under half of rental households (48%) said they had a rent increase in the last three years, while 32% said they found it difficult to meet the cost of their homes – up 1% from the previous year.

The average level of trust in the States Assembly, based on a one to 10 score, was 4.3 – making it the least trusted institution on the island.

Those who had lived on the island for more than 20 years gave an average score of 4.1, while those on the island for five years or fewer scored 5.4.

Constable Karen Stone, chair of the Privileges and Procedures Committee, said she was “naturally very disappointed to see the drop in trust in our elected parliament”.

She added: “But I feel confident that we have introduced a number of measures this year and have a lot of work under way that will provide the public with more opportunities to engage with members, which I believe will build trust over time.”