I work here write process essay Obama, for his part, is showing much less damage, but is hardly in great shape. His job approval rating, as noted, is 48-49 percent, not much changed from 47-47 percent in September, with “strong” disapproval, 39 percent, tying its highest since October 2011. He’s 50-48 percent on favorability. And the president’s 54 percent disapproval on the economy is its highest in more than a year.