CINCINNATI -

With unemployment rates high, the job market remains unstable, and it seems to be affecting the auto industry, as well. Although consumers are not so much concerned with increased car payments, their worry lies in the length of the loans, according to Swapalease.com.

According to a recent study from the site, 43 percent of drivers say they can “increase their monthly car payment as much as $150 because of their job status. However, only 30 percent of those polled are comfortable with a car payment commitment beyond two years because of long-term employment confidence."

In other words, it appears consumers are worried they might not have steady jobs in a few years time.

And the latest U.S. Jobs data also showed “mixed signals,” the company reported — 114,000 jobs added on the positive yet continued shrinking of the overall labor force.

“In terms of the jobs picture, a glimpse into the average driver offers as many mixed signals as the employment data itself,” said Scot Hall, executive vice president of Swapalease.com.

“On one hand we’re finding people are more willing to increase their spending on a car payment, but overall confidence in jobs is still less than stellar for many,” he added.

The company offered a few more U.S. job statistics snapshots:

Per survey results, 25 percent of drivers polled say they are extremely confident in the current jobs picture, compared with 35 percent who say they are concerned.

Moreover, “while a higher number of people (22 percent versus 18 percent) say their credit score is better today because of their employment situation, 55 percent believe their credit is stuck at similar levels compared with the same time last year,” the company continued.

But a recent analysis released by Comerica Bank explained that although credit is improving, “fundamental improvement to household quality of life is driven by real disposable income growth, which comes largely through job and wage gains.”

“As of August, real disposable income for the U.S. was 1.8 percent above its year ago level,” the most recent issue of Comerica Economic Weekly shared. “Three things potentally threaten that gain: accelerating inflation, large tax increases and weak labor markets.”

Comerica also touched on the expectations for job growth the rest of the fall.

“Expectations for job growth in October should remain modest. The unemployment rate dipped to 7.8 percent in September, down from 8.1 percent. This was driven by a huge 873,000 job gain in the household survey for September, following declines of 119,000 jobs in August and 195,000 jobs in July,”  Comerica explained, noting the fall season brought about a bit of a bright spot in the job market.