Majority of U.S. workers say job insecurity has significant impact on their stress

Published on May 21, 2025

Highlights from the 2025 Work in America™ survey

Job insecurity is having a significant impact on a majority of U.S. workers’ (54%) stress levels, according to APA’s 2025 Work in America™ survey. As workers contend with changes in government policy and growing economic uncertainty, the survey revealed several things employers can do to support their employees’ mental health against intensifying workplace stress.

Government policy changes transform work in America

Around two-thirds of employed adults (65%) reported that their company or organization has been affected by recent government policy changes. A fifth (20%) reported the impact has been significant or drastic, requiring fundamental changes to their operations or strategy.

Looking ahead, more than two in five (42%) employed adults said they anticipate changes at their company or organization due to future government policy changes. Among local, state and federal government workers, 53% said they anticipate these changes.

"I am nervous about all of the workforce reductions as I know there have been many layoffs of federal government employees and subcontractors."—38-year-old white female office worker

Uncertainty spurs job security stress

Among workers who reported that job insecurity has had a significant impact on their stress levels at work, the survey revealed that this may be a concern especially for those impacted by recent government policy changes.Specifically, those who said recent government policy changes have had some effect on their company or organization were more likely than those who had not been affected to say job insecurity has a significant impact on their stress levels at work (70% drastically/significantly and 59% moderately/slightly vs. 39% not at all)."I don’t feel very optimistic right now. I’m worried about my job and job security."—43-year-old Black female customer/client/patient services worker
View a full-size version with detailed description of the job insecurity infographic

When asked to consider the future, 39% of workers said they were concerned that changes in government policies may cause them to lose their job in the next 12 months. The survey also revealed that many workers experiencing job insecurity perceived challenges in finding new employment. For example, around two-thirds of workers who were concerned about losing their job due to changes in government policies (66%) said it would take them a significant amount of time to find a new job if they lost theirs, compared with 51% of all workers. Further, more than half of workers who were concerned about losing their job due to government policy changes (55%) said they would need to find a job in a different field or industry if they lost theirs.Economic uncertainty was a significant factor in survey responses; more than two in five (44%) employed adults said they were concerned that an economic slump, downturn or recession would cause them to be laid off, furloughed or otherwise lose their jobs in the next 12 months. This was up from 36% in 2024 and has rebounded to a level last seen in 2023 (43%)—perhaps due in part to recession concerns, as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics noted inflation rates climbed in the first quarter of 2025 to 4.2% after having dipped in 2024 following a peak rate of 9.1% in 2023.¹

"I worry about the lack of work as we are headed into a recession"—59-year-old Black male customer/client/patient services worker

View a full-size version with detailed description of the job insecurity as significant stressor infographic

¹ U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2025, April 10). Consumer Price Index.

Job concerns take a toll on mental health

Government policy changes, concerns about an economic downturn, and general concerns over job security have had a ripple effect on the mental and emotional standing of employees, according to the survey findings.Employed adults who reported their company or organization had been affected by recent government policy changes appeared to have faced negative impacts on their mental health in the workplace, as they were more likely than their counterparts to agree that they felt stress, tension, or uncertainty at work."Layoffs and shifts to using workforce overseas make me feel like I can be laid off at any time and devalued as an employee and [be] just a headcount." —53-year-old Asian female office worker

View a full-size version with detailed description of the stress and uncertainly infographic

Additionally, those whose company or organization had been affected by recent government policy changes were more likely than their counterparts to report experiencing negative outcomes over the last month, such as emotional exhaustion, as well as lack of interest, motivation, or energy at work.

"Uncertainty around job security, constant workload increases, and lack of clear communication from management cause stress."—41-year-old Latino office worker

View a full-size version with detailed description of the negative experiences infographic

Concerns for job loss may be interfering with workers’ personal lives, as those who reported concerns about losing their job in the next 12 months due to either an economic downturn or government policy changes were more likely to report trouble with their sleep and their relationships. "Changes such as rising workloads, job insecurity, lack of support for mental health, and a decline in work-life balance cause me stress in the workplace."—40-year-old white male office worker Concerns for job loss may be interfering with workers’ personal lives, as those who reported concerns about losing their job in the next 12 months due to either an economic downturn or government policy changes were more likely to report trouble with their sleep and their relationships.

View a full-size version with detailed description of the sleep, relationships, policy changes infographic

View a full-size version with detailed description of the sleep, relationships, economic downturn infographic

Employers can play a key role in helping workers cope with job uncertainty

Despite workers’ concerns around economic uncertainty and job loss, employers can play a key role in supporting their employees’ mental health. For example, workers who were satisfied with the mental health support provided by their employer were significantly less likely to be concerned about losing their job due to an economic slump (42% vs. 52% unsatisfied with mental health support). Workers who felt as if they matter to their employer (42% vs. 54% who felt they did not matter) and to their coworkers (43% vs. 54%) were also less likely to be concerned about losing their job.Additionally, workers who were satisfied with their relationship with their manager were less likely to describe their work experience as toxic (10% vs. 55% of workers unsatisfied with their relationship). These workers were also less likely to report concerns about losing their job due to an economic slump (43% vs. 52%) and to say things felt uncertain at their job right now (31% vs. 66%).Together, this data supports previous research that showed employees are more likely to thrive when they have a sense of belonging at work. Employers who provide effective mental health support, foster healthy relationships between employees and their managers, and treat employees as if they matter may feel more stability during times of economic uncertainty.

Advice for managing uncertainty in the workplace

This year’s survey made it clear that the U.S. workforce is undergoing unprecedented change. Whether those changes are positive or negative, uncertainty and feelings of job insecurity can harm workers’ mental health, performance, and productivity at work.Research has found that workers’ psychological well-being and feelings of job insecurity have a two-way relationship that can intensify over time. In workplaces that have undergone layoffs, the remaining workers may also struggle with ripple effects, including negative impacts on culture, performance, and engagement.Psychologists who study the effects of workplace conditions on well-being encourage organizations to build a culture of respect and safety. They recommend workplace wellness audits to assess whether workers feel supported, encouraged and treated fairly, as well as leadership training that teaches supervisors how to identify and support employees who are at risk for decreased health and well-being.APA also recommends these tips for managing workplace stress and coping in a chaotic workplace:

Create a detailed list of your skills and accomplishments as a reminder of your achievements and the good work you have accomplished with valued colleagues. You can add a concise version of this list to your resume.
Keep connected to—or build closer bonds with—colleagues. People who feel as if they matter to their coworkers are more likely to believe their work is meaningful and are less likely to be stressed by job insecurity.
Search for low-cost behavioral health services through state health centers or mental health and substance use agencies.
For those who need immediate mental health support, the 988 Lifeline provides 24-hour access to confidential counseling via call, text, or chat.

Methodology

The research was conducted online in the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of the American Psychological Association among 2,017 employed adults. The survey was conducted March 26–April 4, 2025.Data is weighted where necessary by age by gender, race/ethnicity, region, education, marital status, household size, work status, household income, and smoking status to bring it in line with its actual proportions in the population.Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who have agreed to participate in our surveys. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data is accurate to within ±3.2 percentage points using a 95% confidence level. This credible interval will be wider among subsets of the surveyed population of interest.All sample surveys and polls, whether or not they use probability sampling, are subject to other multiple sources of error that are most often not possible to quantify or estimate, including but not limited to coverage error, error associated with nonresponse, error associated with question wording and response options, and post-survey weighting and adjustments.

Read the original article here.

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