HOUSING and the cost of living remain the top issues currently faced by Islanders, according to results from a recent public survey.
Almost a third of Islanders (29%) were concerned about the cost of living, with housing the second top subject of concern among the public (17%); faith in government and population levels were the joint third most significant issues (9%), according to the results of a survey commissioned by the Policy Centre in January.
When asked about other areas, the combined figures for most important/other issues from respondents rose significantly, with cost of living affecting over two-thirds of the public (64%). This topic was significantly more important for respondents with dependants.
Housing was a close second at 59%, and was the most important issue for Islanders aged under 35.
The Hospital and healthcare were also combined areas for concern for around half of respondents (51%) and (49%), and faith in government jumped to 45% as a combined issue.
The concerns were similar to those expressed in January 2024 through a singular government-commissioned survey, separate to the government’s annual Jersey Opinions and Lifestyle Survey, which also highlighted that economic concerns were the biggest issue for Islanders, followed by housing and faith in government. However, the figures were slightly higher in 2024, at 34%, 21% and 12% respectively.
The results of this year’s survey informed the publication of Top Issues for Islanders, a report which aimed to explain to policy-makers the importance of reassessing the issues highlighted by the taxpayer.
To discuss the survey results, a discussion meeting was held last week with Treasury Minister Elaine Millar, Deputy Catherine Curtis and Dorothy Parker, director of 4Insight, alongside Sir Mark Boleat, the centre’s senior adviser.
In a summary report of the meeting, the government stated the issues raised by the Policy Centre’s survey were “already known” and added that it was “addressing the major concerns identified in the survey”.
Due to Jersey’s small size, politicians were also “continually in touch with the public”, so understood the issues they faced, according to the meeting summary.
The document noted that the government understood there was a need for more training of politicians on ethical issues, on the concern of faith in the political system, although the issue was “true in all jurisdictions”.
It also said that government was “conscious” that the views of young people “in particular” were not well heard.
The summary comes after the government’s Engagement and Information Improvement Report, published in October 2022, recommended that a “structured centralised approach” to public opinion should be implemented.
In the discussion meeting the government “did not feel it was worth doing such a survey every year”, as the annual Jersey Opinions and Lifestyle Survey was “robust” and provided a “huge amount of information” including tracking trends over many years.
