Q4 2025 Employee Mindset Survey

A look into current workforce sentiment

Despite high satisfaction and confidence in job security, today’s workers aren’t going anywhere. Our new survey reveals that very few employees are actively job hunting, while most are choosing to “job hug,” holding tightly to their current roles as their anxiety about the future job market lingers.

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Key Findings

1. Nearly half of all workers are anxious about the future job market.
   • Poor market and economic conditions (28%) are viewed as the most significant threat to future employment.
   • Workers trust their jobs, not the job market. Even as most (77%) feel secure today, fears of a weakening economy and shrinking opportunities are fueling long-term anxiety about employment stability.
2. Only 9% of the workforce is actively job hunting.
   • 75% of respondents are satisfied with their current employer.
   • A long-term commitment is climbing, with 68% of workers planning to stay in their current role for at least three years.
   • High satisfaction and low job mobility indicate a workforce prioritizing security over exploration. While that stability benefits retention, it may also signal waning motivation to pursue new growth opportunities.
3. Nearly half of employees would trade pay for flexibility, especially younger workers.
   • 49% of employees said they would be extremely or very interested in a fully remote role even at a lower salary.
   • 43% currently work fully in-office, climbing to 49% among Gen X, but only 31% among Gen Z.
   • Flexibility is now viewed as part of compensation, not a bonus. Employers with rigid return-to-office policies risk losing the next generation of talent who equate flexibility with trust and autonomy.
4. Eight in ten believe they earn average or above-average pay, yet many live close to the financial edge.
   • 80% of employees believe their pay is average or better for their location.
   • More than one-third couldn’t cover living expenses for more than three months without a job.
   • Perceived pay fairness masks financial fragility. Even satisfied employees may still feel financially strained, underscoring the importance of benefits, flexibility, and career development as key drivers of employee retention.

A Deeper Dive Into Survey Questions

1. Nearly half of employees are anxious about their future place in the job market

Despite confidence in their current role, employees are either extremely (23%) or very (24%) anxious about their future place in the job market. This anxiety increases slightly across generations.

2. “Job hugging” is more prevalent than ever, with only 9% of employees actively looking for a new job

A clear difference across generations is evident here: 39% of Gen Z expect to stay at their current job for only 1-2 years, while most Gen X (51%) plan to stay for 5 years or more.

3. Gen X is more than twice as likely as Gen Z to stay with their current employer for more than 5 years

4. 75% of employees are satisfied with their current employer

A strong overall satisfaction with three-quarters stating they are very (44%) or extremely (31%) satisfied.

5. More than three-quarters of the workforce is confident in the stability of their role

Overall, strong confidence in the stability of current roles, with a substantial majority 77% saying they are very (42%) or extremely (35%) confident.

6. Half of all workers would take a pay cut for a fully remote position

Even with lower pay, nearly half (49%) would be extremely (27%) or very (22%) interested in a fully remote position. 

7. More than 7 out of 10 employees want to work remotely at least part of the time

There’s a steady increase in full-in-office employees across generations, peaking at almost half (49%) among Gen X. The most common alternative is hybrid, which peaks with Gen Z at 25%. The full remote option is consistent across all segments at 15%. In terms of preference for remote work, the highest level is with Gen Z (25%) and drops to 21% with Gen X. Conversely, only 19% of Gen Z would prefer to be entirely in-house vs. 34% with Gen X.

8. Eight out of 10 employees believe they are paid average or above for their location

Overall, a majority (58%) believe their compensation is either average (34%) or somewhat above average (24%) for their living area.

9. More than one-third of people wouldn’t be able to cover their living expenses for 3 months or less without a job

Overall, two-thirds (66%) would have six months or less to find a new job, given their current expenses. For Gen Z, almost half (47%) would have under 3 months.

Methodology

The State of Employee Confidence Survey, conducted in October 2025, was administered to 500 full-time U.S. employees aged 18 to 60 with annual household incomes of $50,000 or more. Participants represented all U.S. regions (51% male, 49% female). The online survey gathered insights into how employees feel about their jobs, their confidence in long-term career stability, and the growing tension between satisfaction and uncertainty in today’s workplace.