One Out of Four U.S. Workers are Unhappy in their Current Jobs - And It’s Declining Over Time

Following a steep decline over the last couple of months, U.S. Worker emotional well-being is steadying out, with found optimism emerging for some workers (but not all). In the May 2025 edition of the Pulse of the U.S. Workforce, overall happiness and excitement across the U.S. is on the rise - though stress levels are also high. The workplace experience plays a role in this.

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A notable insight: U.S. workers' happiness on the job, which was at an all time high in November 2020 (86%), has seen a decline of 14% over time. Today, 74% are happy in their current jobs, and something has shifted.

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There are differences across groups and industries. What is driving unhappiness for one out of four U.S. workers on the job? Uncover who they are and what is driving worker unhappiness. 

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Explore the full Pulse of the U.S. Workforce report to see the data behind the headlines and benchmark your organization against national trends. Download the report, or subscribe now for full access to data from over 100,000 U.S. workers on a regular basis.