One of the few things more stressful than looking for a job in 2026 may be trying to hold onto one, new research suggests.
After a year of weak growth, the labor market has shown some signs of picking up steam. The Labor Department estimated U.S. employers added 115,000 jobs in April and 185,000 jobs in March. But month after month, hiring remains concentrated in certain sectors like health care and social assistance. Workers outside those industries have clung to their jobs fearing they won’t be able to find another amid growing AI adoption, waves of layoffs, and a general sense of economic uncertainty that may prompt employers to scale back hiring.
Attempting to secure a job in this environment can feel grueling. A Resume Genius report detailing the results of a survey of 1,000 job seekers conducted by Pollfish found 49% of those looking for work say the search has negatively impacted their mental health.
But workers staying in roles they don’t enjoy can also come at a cost to their well-being. A Monster report breaking down the findings of a survey of 1,000 employed U.S. workers, also conducted by Pollfish, found 59% say their job negatively affects their mental health at least monthly.
Some Americans are impacted by both – afraid of being laid off from a job they dislike and worried about their prospects in today's job market. Jo-Ann, 55, of Pennsylvania, who wanted her last name withheld over fears it would hurt her ability to land a new job, has been laid off four times over the past three decades and is concerned it could happen again as the company she works for adopts AI tools. She's heard whispers her department could be dissolved by next year.
"I've been to different states. I've used recruiters. I've used resume writers. I've been to headhunters, more headhunters than I can tell you, and the jobs that they keep sending me that 'you qualify for' are now 14 bucks an hour, if I'm lucky," she said, adding she's surprised her experience in IT, tech, insurance and criminal law wouldn't make her more valuable to an employer. "Fourteen bucks an hour is not paying my bills."
How is job stress affecting workers?
The Monster survey found 46% of workers reported experiencing burnout. Employees said the factor contributing most to their stress is increased workload or understaffing, followed by poor management, struggles with work-life balance and workplace conflict or drama. About a quarter of respondents said stagnant pay and fear of layoffs also contributed.
Full article @ https://eu.usatoday.com/story/money/economy/2026/05/21/what-to-do-job-stuck-search/90058470007/