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Americans are⁤ increasingly ⁣worried about their job security. The average ⁣perceived probability of finding a new job if their current one disappeared fell to 43.1% in December 2025, ⁣a 4.2% drop from the ⁤previous year, according to recent data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

This marks a‍ record low as the surveys began in 2013. The report indicates⁣ several demographics are driving this pessimism.

Those earning less than $100,000 annually, individuals without a college degree, and surprisingly, baby boomers over 60-approaching retirement-have the lowest confidence in their ability to find new employment.

All⁣ workers ⁣are worried-even professionals with a steady job think they’re about to get laid off

“Americans don’t feel like‍ the current ⁣job market is working for them,” Daniel⁢ Zhao, chief economist at Glassdoor, tells fortune.‍ “Workers on ⁣the ⁤lower end of the income spectrum or without a college degree are often more susceptible to the swings of ⁤the business cycle,⁣ so itS natural for them to be more concerned about signs of an economic slowdown.”

Even those ‍currently employed are‍ concerned. The perceived probability of job loss in the next year increased to 15.2%,⁢ up 1.4% from the year before. However,⁢ fewer expect to leave their jobs voluntarily; the expected quit rate decreased to 17.5% over the next twelve months.

“Generally, workers are ‍anxious about job security as they see prominent layoffs in‍ the headlines and hear from their laid-off friends who are having trouble getting back into work,” Zhao ‍explains. “Even ‍workers who are currently⁤ employed feel stuck⁢ in their⁤ jobs‍ as the current job market limits their options.”