According to the data, the average perceived probability of finding a job if you lose your current position dropped to 43.1% in December 2025, a 4.2% decrease from the previous year. The most recent data comes from Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
That’s an all-time low since the survey began tracking the data in 2013, and the report noted that some demographics are driving job expectations to rock bottom.
The lowest earners in the country make less than six figures, and those without college degrees, perhaps surprisingly, baby boomers People aged over 60 – on the verge of retirement – are currently the least confident about finding a job.
All workers are worried, even professionals with stable jobs think they are about to be laid off
“Americans feel the current job market is not working for them,” said Daniel Zhao, chief economist at Jobs.com. glass door,Tell wealth. “Workers who earn less or do not have a college degree tend to be more vulnerable to fluctuations in the business cycle, so they will naturally be more concerned about signs of an economic slowdown.”
Even professionals working in gigs worry about the precariousness of their situation. The report said people believed the likelihood of unemployment next year rose to 15.2%, an increase of 1.4% from the previous year. but many Don’t assume their exit was voluntary: The expected quit rate in the next 12 months decreased to 17.5%.
“In general, workers are anxious about job security because they see significant layoffs in the headlines and hear about friends who were laid off having a hard time returning to work,” Zhao explained.
“Even currently employed employees can feel trapped in their jobs because the current job market limits their ability to find better jobs and receive raises or promotions internally.”
Why baby boomers are most worried about the job market
Americans age 60 and older are only 33% likely to find a new job if they lose their current position, nearly 10% lower than the national average. However, AI automation may not be to blame for the demise of their jobs. Glassdoor’s chief economist noted that baby boomers are on the verge of retirement and are being given up on opportunities based on their age.
The labor force participation rate, employment rate and unemployment rate all declined among workers aged 65 and older, but this may be partly due to workers aging and unable to work, rather than a reflection of their financial situation,” Zhao said.
Baby boomers were right to worry about their job prospects after layoffs—and their concerns have been proven correct. Among U.S. citizens aged 50 to 65, 14% Got fired once According to a 2025 report, 4% of people have been fired more than once in the past 10 years wall street journal analyze Boston College Retirement Study. However, among those Gen Xers and baby boomers who experienced at least one layoff, 24% were unable to find a new job.
Older generations also have to sift through job boards for longer before finally finding a job. And Gen Z and Millennials, ages 25 to 34 The usual reasons for unemployment are According to statistics, Gen Xers and baby boomers aged 55 to 64 were unemployed for an average of 26 weeks and unemployed for an average of 19 weeks. wall street journal Start analyzing last year. Even if older generations manage to find work, 11% have been forced to take pay cuts.
Due to ageism and the expectation that they will soon retire, baby boomers is also being passed on Strong promotions and higher salaries. According to a 2024 study by Resume Now, about 22% of workers aged 40 and older said their workplace overlooks older workers for challenging tasks, and 16% said they have witnessed a pattern of overlooking younger workers for promotions.
Even more surprising, their compensation doesn’t reflect their value: Some 49% of older workers say they make less than their Gen Z and younger Millennial colleagues for the same job.