Workers Brace for Uncertainty, Prioritize Stability in 2026

Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared on Monster.

Compared to 2025 when workers were reacting to change with cautious optimism, 2026 shows a workforce that has largely accepted uncertainty as a constant.

Rather than accelerating career moves, workers are prioritizing stability and income protection and are quietly adapting through side hustles, upskilling, and more selective job searching. This shift isn’t about disengagement; it’s about preservation and planning.

As companies navigate economic uncertainty, rising labor costs, return-to-office mandates, and the rapid spread of AI, employees are reassessing their stability, priorities, and long-term career plans. Many feel cautious about the job market, stretched by inflation, and unsure how new technologies will reshape their roles.

Last year, workers believed movement was the answer. In 2025, people were willing to test the market, walk away from bad experiences, and bet on change.

In 2026, workers aren’t driven by optimism about what’s next, but by realism about what’s sustainable. They’re still ambitious, but they’re managing risk more carefully, protecting income, and planning for a future where uncertainty isn’t temporary.

To capture this moment, Monster developed the 2026 WorkWatch Report, surveying 1,504 U.S. workers across industries, generations, and education levels. The findings reveal a workforce under pressure, but also one actively adapting.

The report explores worker sentiment across five core areas:

• Economic outlook and job security
• Salary expectations, inflation, and financial stress
• The decline of remote work and the push back to office
• Side hustles and upskilling trends
• AI at work: usage, concerns, and future expectations

Key findings:

• 43% are planning to job search in 2026, compared to 93% who reported the same thing in 2025.
• 40% of workers expect the job market to worsen in 2026, and another 40% expect no improvement, highlighting widespread caution about economic stability.
• 52% expect nationwide layoffs to increase, signaling growing anxiety about job security even among those not directly affected in 2025.
• 58% say their biggest concern for 2026 is that their salary won’t keep up with inflation, reinforcing ongoing financial strain.
• 57% report that their current pay has fallen behind inflation.
• Half of workers (50%) are required to be in the office five days a week, yet 31% say they won’t apply to fully in-office roles.
• Nearly two-thirds of workers are turning to extra income streams, with 32% already holding a side hustle and 30% planning to start one in 2026.
• 49% are concerned AI could threaten their job or industry, showing rising unease as AI adoption accelerates.

The Job Seeker Mindset 2025 vs. 2026

1. Economic Outlook and Job Security

Workers are bracing for a tougher labor market, even if they haven’t felt the impact yet.

As 2026 begins, workers are entering the year with heightened caution. While most employees weren’t directly affected by layoffs in 2025, many expect the economic environment to become more challenging in the months ahead.

Sentiment is shaped less by personal experience and more by a broader sense that the job market is cooling, companies are tightening budgets, and hiring may slow.

Most Workers Expect Layoffs to Increase in 2026

• 52% of workers believe layoffs will increase nationwide in 2026.
• Another 41% expect layoffs to stay about the same, indicating uncertainty but not optimism.
• 13% of workers say layoffs at their company in 2026 are extremely likely.
• 34% say layoffs at their company are somewhat likely.

Workers Staying Put, Expecting a Stagnant or Declining Job Market in 2026

• 57% say they are not planning to search for a job in 2026.
• A separate October 2025 Monster study found 75% of employees plan to stay put through 2027.
• 40% of workers expect the job market to worsen in 2026.
• Another 40% believe it will remain the same; only 20% think it will improve.

Salary, Flexibility, and Work-Life Balance Lead 2026 Job Priorities

Workers ranked the below as the most important priorities in 2026:

• 73% salary increase
• 58% flexible work schedules
• 54% better work-life balance
• 35% remote work
• 32% 4-day work week
• 25% promotion
• 24% career development opportunities
• 21% unlimited PTO

2. Salary Expectations, Inflation, and Financial Stress

Inflation continues to shape nearly every financial decision workers make.

The cost-of-living crisis remains the defining economic pressure for 2026. Workers expect higher salaries not because they’re growing professionally, but because their dollars simply don’t go as far. Many are taking on extra responsibilities, cutting expenses, or even adding second jobs to keep up.

Salary increases, flexibility, and work-life balance dominate workers’ priorities as they make career decisions this year.

• 58% cite salary not keeping up with inflation as their biggest concern.
• 40% are concerned about burnout or mental health.
• 26% worry about not finding a job if they need one in a cooling labor market.
• 20% are concerned about losing their current job.
• 20% are worried about the lack of career advancement.
• 19% fear companies will cut remote or flexible work.

Burnout Increased for Many Workers in 2025

• 31% experienced more burnout year-over-year
• 35% experienced the same amount
• 10% experienced less
• 23% had no burnout

Inflation Shaped Career Decisions in 2025

• 38% looked for or accepted a higher paying job
• 21% cut back on retirement contributions
• 16% took on a second job
• 6% relocated

Without a Raise, Workers Plan to Seek Other Income or Cut Back

• 47% say they would have to cut back on expenses if they did not receive a raise.
• 38% would look for a new job.
• 29% would delay major purchases or life plans.
• 23% would add a new or additional side job to supplement their income.
• 5% say they would quit outright.

3. The Decline of Remote Work and the Push Back to Office

The return-to-office movement is solidifying, but not without consequences.

Many workers feel more productive in the office, yet full-time onsite requirements are also the top deal-breaker in job applications. As companies tighten in-person expectations, employees are reevaluating what they want from their employers, and what they’re willing to tolerate.

Hybrid remains appealing, but full-time office work risks shrinking applicant pools and creating tension between managers and their teams.

Most Workers Say They’re More Productive in the Office

• 51% of workers say they are most productive in the office, making it the majority preference.
• 29% say they are more productive working remotely.
• 21% prefer a hybrid environment, balancing in-person and remote work.

Half of Workers Know Someone Required to Return to the Office in 2025

• 36% of workers know someone who was required to return to the office in 2025, indicating widespread RTO shifts.
• 14% say they themselves were required to return, showing the direct impact of employer mandates.

Workers Say Fully In-Office Roles Are the Biggest Deal-Breaker

• 31% of workers say they would not apply for a job requiring five days a week in the office, making it the top deterrent.
• 13% would refuse a role that requires four days on-site.
• 11% say three in-office days per week is enough to make them avoid applying.
• Very few workers reject jobs over lighter requirements, with only 4–5% opting out at one or two days in the office.
• Nearly half of workers (49%) say they would apply regardless of the in-office requirement, showing a divided applicant pool.

Workers Expect In-Office Requirements to Rise or Hold Steady in 2026

• 42% of workers believe companies will increase their in-office requirements in 2026, signaling expectations of a continued shift toward more on-site work.
• 44% think in-office expectations will stay the same, suggesting many workers anticipate stability rather than further change.
• Only 13% expect companies to decrease their in-office requirements, indicating that fewer workers foresee a move toward greater workplace flexibility.

DEI Policies Also Shape Application Decisions

• 37% would avoid employers without strong diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies.
• 63% say it does not affect their decision.

4. Side Hustles and Upskilling Trends

Workers are building financial resilience and career mobility on their own terms.

Side hustles have quickly become a standard part of working life, not a niche behavior. Whether workers are supplementing income, preparing for career shifts, or experimenting with new paths, gig work is now woven into mainstream career strategy.

At the same time, a majority of workers plan to upskill in 2026, signaling strong interest in future-proofing their careers, especially as AI reshapes job expectations.

Workers Show Strong Interest in Upskilling

• 35% completed professional training/certification in 2025
• 64% say they are likely to pursue upskilling or training in 2026

5. AI at Work: Usage, Concerns, and Future Expectations

AI is everywhere, and workers are split between excitement and fear.

AI adoption continues to grow, though almost half the workforce still doesn’t use it at all. Among those who do, AI supports a wide range of tasks, from basic administrative work to coding and creative projects. Concern about AI replacing jobs is real for nearly half of all workers, but many expect the most significant impacts to arrive years down the road.

For now, workers view AI as both a productivity tool and a looming source of disruption.

Many Workers Use AI at Work, but Adoption Remains Uneven

• 30% use AI for basic tasks such as emails, scheduling, or writing support.
• 19% use AI for advanced tasks like coding, automation, or data analysis.
• 18% use AI for job applications, including resumes and cover letters.
• 15% use AI for creative work, such as graphics, campaigns, and content.
• 42% say they do not use AI at all, showing that adoption is still far from universal.

Half of Workers Are Concerned AI Could Threaten Their Job or Industry

• 49% of workers are concerned (17% very concerned and 32% somewhat concerned) about AI replacing their role or disrupting their industry.
• 51% are not concerned.

Workers Expect AI Job Threats Over the Long Term, Not Immediately

• 8% say AI is already threatening their job, and another 16% expect a threat within 1–2 years.
• 18% believe AI could threaten their job within 3–5 years, while 20% expect the impact in 5+ years.
• 38% believe AI will never threaten their role, the largest single group.

Most Workers Expect AI to Reduce Jobs in Their Industry by 2026

• 40% expect moderate job reductions in their industry by the end of 2026.
• 9% expect large-scale job losses
• 47% expect no major change, making stability the most common prediction.
• Only 4% believe AI will create more jobs than it eliminates, showing very limited optimism about net job growth in the near term.

Why It Matters for Employers

The 2026 WorkWatch Report highlights a workforce that is simultaneously strained and proactive:

• Workers are preparing for instability even when they haven’t personally experienced layoffs.
• Inflation is influencing nearly every financial and career decision.
• Strict in-office mandates are driving candidate hesitation and reducing talent pools.
• Employees are increasingly investing in skills but also seeking supplemental income out of necessity.
• AI is reshaping expectations, responsibilities, and anxieties across job types.

Methodology

The findings in this report are based on a national survey of 1,504 employed U.S. adults, conducted on December 15, 2025.

Respondents answered questions related to job searches, career expectations, workplace preferences, return-to-office policies, inflation, and cost-of-living concerns. The survey included a mix of multiple-choice, scale-based, and multi-select questions to capture a full picture of how workers are navigating a shifting labor market.

The sample reflected a broad demographic spread. Respondents identified as 56% female, 43% male, and less than 1% non-binary or preferring not to answer. Generational representation included 30% Millennials, 30% Gen X, 29% Baby Boomers, and 11% Gen Z.

Education levels ranged from 1% with some high school, 22% high school graduates, 22% with some college, 37% with a college degree, 15% with a master’s degree, and 3% with a doctorate or professional degree.

Participants’ current job types included 61% white-collar workers, 28% blue-collar, and 12% gray-collar, providing a balanced view across industries and roles.