U.S. Workers Are Growing More Pessimistic About the Job Market
New Gallup data show confidence has fallen sharply since 2022, even as unemployment remains low.
Work News | New Stardom
Trend Analysis
Photo by Lorenzo Zunino ‍
Worker optimism in the United States has fallen to its lowest level in nearly a decade, even as unemployment remains historically low, according to new Gallup data.
Gallup’s latest survey finds that just 44% of U.S. employees say it is a good time to find a quality job, down from 67% in 2022 and the weakest reading since 2016. At the same time, the share of workers who describe themselves as “thriving” in their lives has slipped, reversing gains made in the immediate aftermath of the pandemic recovery.
The data suggest a shift in mood as the U.S. jobless rate remains near long-term lows, while hiring has cooled and wage growth has slowed. Workers appear to be recalibrating expectations after an unusually tight labour market in 2021 and 2022, when employers competed aggressively for staff and job-switchers secured significant pay increases.
Read Next
White-Collar Hiring Weakens While Health and Care Jobs Grow
Gallup’s findings show that younger workers and those without a college degree have seen particularly sharp declines in optimism. Fewer employees now say they are watching for new job opportunities, and more report that they would struggle to find comparable work if they lost their current role.
The results point to a labour market that is still functioning but no longer delivering the confidence boost it did two years ago. The mood shift underscores how quickly perceptions can change even without a formal downturn.
Follow global work and job trends. Subscribe to New Stardom’s newsletter.
This work is funded directly by readers who value independent reporting.
If you find this useful, you can support New Stardom’s independent journalism.
Read Next
Have insights on work and the future of work? Submit an opinion piece to New Stardom. Love work and career books? Explore our fun workplace book collection.
New Stardom is an independent magazine covering the Future of Work, AI, and emerging job trends.
