60 percent of Americans feel trapped in their jobs
Burnout is at an all-time high among Americans. That's according to a study from learning platform Moodle, which found that 66 percent of workers are suffering.
This is a sharp increase in reported burnout from last year. In 2024, the 14th annual Aflac WorkForces Report found that 33 percent of employees were experiencing high levels of stress.
This year, Moodle says, 24 percent of U.S. workers feel like they have more work to complete than time to do it. Not having enough resources or the right tools to do their job properly is an issue for a further 24 percent.
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A poor economic outlook is affecting workplace wellbeing for 20 percent, and 19 percent report taking on too much work due to labor shortages in their industry.
“American workers across most industries are struggling – especially young employees. Burnout rates are high and the threat of AI is triggering significant fear about their relevance at work,” says Scott Anderberg, who is the CEO of Moodle.
Rise of RTO
Another aspect exacerbating employee stress is the rise of return of office mandates (RTO). 2024 was a year characterized by significant tension around RTO for American workers. And 2025 looks set to keep the pressure on.
With the Trump administration now in power, RTO mandates are in sharp focus thanks to the creation of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Its mission is to slash federal spending, with its activities overseen by Elon Musk.
One of the ways it is doing that is by reducing the federal workforce. Already, reports indicate that thousands of federal government employees have been laid off. DOGE has told agency leaders to plan for “large-scale reductions in force”.
Within this wider environment, it isn’t surprising that many American workers are worried, stressed and fearful for their futures.
Career Gridlock on the rise
New research from Resume Now has identified a new workplace trend: Career Gridlock.
This is a phenomenon where workers remain trapped in jobs due to financial fears, skill gaps, and uncertainty.
In fact, 60 percent of workers have stayed in roles longer than they wanted because of the perceived difficulty of making a career transition.
Despite 66 percent believing a career change would boost their happiness, only 13 percent have successfully made the leap.
Workers have a number of reasons for caution. Perhaps unsurprisingly, money comes out on top. The research found that financial instability and salary concerns are the biggest barriers to career change.
Thirty-five percent fear starting over at a lower salary, while 34 percent worry about financial instability during the transition.
Uncertainty about career fit adds to the hesitation for 32 percent who are uncertain whether a new career would be a good match for them.
Skills gaps causing concern
In a very uncertain labor market, where there are more job hunters than open roles, skills gaps and competition are also top concerns.
Twenty percent are worried about gaining the necessary skills, and 14 percent worry about how they will stack up compared with more experienced candidates.
"Career changes can feel daunting, especially when financial concerns and uncertainty come into play," says Keith Spencer, career expert at Resume Now.
"But today’s job market is shifting—employers are prioritizing skills over degrees, and switching careers doesn’t mean starting from scratch. By leveraging transferable skills and taking a strategic approach to the job search, workers can transition into new roles with confidence."