Survey Finds 'Job Hugging' Soars in 2026
Six in ten American workers are "job hugging," or clinging to their current roles due to fear of the job market, according to a new survey. The report from ResumeBuilder.com, published on February 16, indicates a sharp rise in risk-averse behavior among employees, potentially impacting labor mobility and hiring.
- The jump in "job hugging" has been significant, rising from 45% of workers in August 2025 to 57% in February 2026. This 12-point increase in just five months highlights a rapid shift towards risk aversion in the workforce. - The primary drivers of this trend are fears of layoffs and the impact of artificial intelligence. According to the survey, 63% of "job huggers" are concerned about being laid off, and 70% worry that AI will affect their job security within the next six months. - This increased caution is a stark reversal of the "Great Resignation" and "job hopping" trends that characterized the early 2020s. The national quits rate, a measure of voluntary job leaving, held steady at a low 2.0% in December 2025, reflecting workers' hesitancy to leave their positions. - Many employees clinging to their jobs are making significant sacrifices. The survey revealed that 52% are working longer hours, 45% have taken on responsibilities outside their job description, 35% have taken less time off, 22% have missed out on a raise, and 20% were passed over for a promotion. - The backdrop for this trend includes a turbulent job market. In 2025, U.S. employers announced plans for over 1.2 million job cuts, a 58% increase from 2024. The trend continued into the new year, with 108,435 cuts announced in January 2026, the highest January total since 2009. - "Employers must recognize that many workers are staying not out of loyalty, but out of necessity and fear," says ResumeBuilder.com's Chief Career Advisor, Stacie Haller. Haller warns that this environment can lead to employee stagnation and burnout if companies don't address the underlying causes of this anxiety. - The unemployment rate stood at 4.3% in January 2026. While employers added 130,000 jobs that month, the market remains fragile after a sluggish 2025 where job creation averaged only about 15,000 per month. - More than eight in ten of the surveyed "job huggers" worry about "last in, first out" policies, fearing they would be the first to be let go if they were to start a new job. Consequently, only 19% are actively applying and interviewing for new positions.
