WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans’ outlook on the job market has turned increasingly pessimistic, despite a low unemployment rate, reflecting an ongoing hiring drought. A Gallup survey conducted late last year found that only 28% of workers believe it is presently a “good time” to find a quality job, with a startling 72% stating otherwise. This represents a dramatic shift from mid-2022, when 70% were optimistic.
The decline in confidence appears particularly acute in the context of rising costs and economic concerns. Conducted in late 2025, the survey was impacted by the backdrop of escalating oil prices amidst geopolitical unrest, prompting many Americans to tighten their belts on spending.
Moreover, younger workers aged 18 to 34 are especially disheartened, with only about 20% affirming that it is a good time to seek employment, compared to nearly 40% of older workers over 65. College graduates, too, have expressed a particularly bleak view, with optimism levels plummeting to their lowest since 2013.
The Gallup data also coincides with reports from the Labor Department highlighting the weakest hiring rates in over a decade, as companies exhibit reluctance to expand their workforce, preferring to retain current employees.
Furthermore, this persistent hiring stagnation predicates a grim market outlook for younger and less experienced job seekers. As companies focus on maintaining existing staff, the youth are finding it increasingly challenging to penetrate the labor market.
Other surveys corroborate these sentiments, with negative perspectives towards the economy reflected across various polls. Notably, the consumer confidence index has tapered significantly from pre-pandemic levels, signaling a pervasive anxiety among U.S. workers about finding and retaining quality employment.
The decline in confidence appears particularly acute in the context of rising costs and economic concerns. Conducted in late 2025, the survey was impacted by the backdrop of escalating oil prices amidst geopolitical unrest, prompting many Americans to tighten their belts on spending.
Moreover, younger workers aged 18 to 34 are especially disheartened, with only about 20% affirming that it is a good time to seek employment, compared to nearly 40% of older workers over 65. College graduates, too, have expressed a particularly bleak view, with optimism levels plummeting to their lowest since 2013.
The Gallup data also coincides with reports from the Labor Department highlighting the weakest hiring rates in over a decade, as companies exhibit reluctance to expand their workforce, preferring to retain current employees.
Furthermore, this persistent hiring stagnation predicates a grim market outlook for younger and less experienced job seekers. As companies focus on maintaining existing staff, the youth are finding it increasingly challenging to penetrate the labor market.
Other surveys corroborate these sentiments, with negative perspectives towards the economy reflected across various polls. Notably, the consumer confidence index has tapered significantly from pre-pandemic levels, signaling a pervasive anxiety among U.S. workers about finding and retaining quality employment.
