Worker confidence in finding a new job has hit a record low

Worker confidence in securing a new job in the U.S. has fallen to its lowest level on record, a New York Federal Reserve survey showed in September 2025. The average perceived chance of finding new work after losing a job slipped to 44.9% in August, the weakest reading since the survey began in 2013.

The decline reflects mounting concerns over the labor market, with workers reporting greater fear of job loss and facing slower hiring momentum.

According to the Fed’s Survey of Consumer Expectations, the drop in confidence was broad-based, cutting across age, income, and education groups.

The findings underscore a shift away from the “Great Resignation” era of 2021–2022, when workers felt empowered by plentiful opportunities, toward an environment marked by slower job growth and heightened economic uncertainty.