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The vast majority of Americans are concerned about the prospect of losing their job this year, a new survey found.
The Great Stay: 2025 State of the Labor Market report, by My Perfect Resume, highlights growing concerns among U.S. workers about job security, economic instability and workplace stress. According to the survey of 1,115 workers, 81 percent fear job loss this year, with 20 percent feeling “much more worried” about finding themselves unemployed in 2025 than they did in 2024.
The report underscores a workforce increasingly hesitant to make career moves, driven by concerns over layoffs and economic downturns. In fact, 76 percent of workers predict an increase in layoffs this year, while an overwhelming 92 percent are bracing for a possible recession. Some 63 percent believe more businesses will shut down in 2025 compared to last year.
The concerns are not without reason. U.S.-based employers announced 275,240 job cuts in March—more than five years ago when the coronavirus pandemic hit, according to a report from job placement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas.
Federal government layoffs accounted for 216,215 of the month’s total, contributing to an overall workforce reduction of 275,240. Over the past two months, 280,253 layoffs across 27 agencies have been attributed to the Department of Government Efficiency, headed unofficially by Elon Musk, as part of its initiative to downsize the federal workforce and cut spending.
March’s layoff total was surpassed only by the historic cuts of April and May 2020, when employers announced more than 1 million job losses, according to Challenger records dating to 1989.
Workers Fear Being Forgotten
Patrice Williams Lindo, CEO at Career Nomad, said that workers are not being “dramatic” with their worries. Instead, they’re “paying attention.”
“Layoffs are still happening—in an unpredictably regular fashion since the start of the year,” she told Newsweek. “The economy feels unpredictable. Tariffs are shifting. The news cycle is nonstop. Workers are tired of being caught off guard, and the anxiety is palpable.
“It’s not just fear of job loss—it’s fear of being forgotten, left behind or forced to start over without a safety-net income, financial security, health insurance, just a name a few. Even high performers are staying put in jobs they’ve outgrown, not because they want to, but because it feels safer than stepping into the unknown right now.”
Adriana L. Cowdin, entrepreneur and coach at Be Bold Executive Coaching, said the current situation is not “unprecedented,” but that it does feel “uniquely destabilizing” as even traditionally “safe” institutions—like the federal government—”are sending signals that nothing is guaranteed.”
“I’ve seen how political and economic shifts shape job security perceptions—whether it was the dot-com crash in 2000, the ripple effects of 9/11, the 2008 financial collapse or the COVID disruptions,” she told Newsweek. “When that sense of predictability vanishes, people naturally start to wonder: If I can’t count on the market, the government or long-tenured companies to stay steady, what can I count on?”
Composite image created by Newsweek.
Photo-illustration by Newsweek/Getty
“It’s a logical emotional response,” she continued. “We’re hardwired to spot patterns and protect ourselves from risk.”
Sam Wright, head of operations and partnerships at Huntr, an AI resume builder and job tracking company, agreed that the signals being received by workers are responsible for the anxiety spike.
“While unemployment remains historically low, high-profile layoffs at major companies create an outsized psychological impact,” he told Newsweek. “Each tech or media layoff announcement triggers spikes in resume updates on our platform—even from industries completely unrelated to the affected sector.”
Knock-on Effects
This uncertainty is fueling stress and burnout in the workplace. More than half of respondents—52 percent—to the labor market report anticipate burnout rates will worsen, with job insecurity—43 percent—cited as the leading cause.
To stay competitive in the job market, 61 percent of worker said they plan to upskill in 2025, focusing on professional development to safeguard their careers, something Lindo said is a result of lack of faith.
“The job market isn’t falling apart, but people’s trust in it is,” she said. “That’s what we’re really seeing in these numbers.”
Cowdin said that while the job market currently inspires fear, it could still be “a temporary wave that stabilizes later in the year.”
“Either way, the smartest move is not to freeze in fear,” she said, adding that workers are right to take action to make themselves more appealing to employers, whether that be in their current role or to other companies.
“Refresh your personal brand, update your LinkedIn, talk with a coach or therapist, stay tuned in at work—even if you’re remote—and focus on keeping your mindset steady,” Cowdin advised. “Don’t let fear write your story.”