Most think Obama doing good job on unemployment

Most Americans say President Obama is doing a good job on unemployment, according to a new poll.

{mosads}A slim majority, 51 percent, approve of his handling of unemployment, a 6-point increase from around the same time last year, according to an Associated Press/GfK poll released Sunday.

Still, 48 percent continue to disapprove of his handling of the nation’s jobless.

The poll was conducted before Friday’s updated jobs report from the Department of Labor, which found the economy beat expectations by adding 257,000 jobs last month.

The unemployment rate ticked up to 5.7 percent and the labor force participation rate now stands at 62.9 percent.

Those without work for six months or longer – 2.8 million – make up 31.5 percent of the unemployed.

A majority in the AP poll continues to disapprove of Obama’s handling of the economy, immigration, healthcare and the threat posed by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

Thirty-nine percent say the country is headed in the right direction, up 8 points from October, compared to 60 percent who say it is on the wrong track.

Forty-seven percent approve of Obama’s overall job performance, while 52 percent disapprove.

The poll of 1,045 adults was conducted online between Jan. 29 and Feb. 2 with a margin of error of 3.5 points.