“Job Hugging”: Trying to Survive in a Job You Hate

One of the biggest reasons why workers are holding onto their positions longer than they ordinarily would is the fear of layoffs. More than 100 companies are planning layoffs in 2026, and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that total nonfarm employment decreased by 92,000 in January.

With so many companies downsizing, many workers fear that if they quit their current roles, they simply won’t be able to find another—a stark change from just a few years ago, when the market was much more favorable to applicants.

The data confirms that finding a new job is becoming more challenging. According to Business Insider, job seekers only have a 0.4% chance of landing each job they apply for.

Vicki Salemi, a career expert at Monster, said that job security and stability are what define success in this challenging market. “The new loyalty is about survival, not necessarily satisfaction,” she said. 1

A 2026 survey from MetLife reinforced these sentiments. 31% of respondents said a primary reason for staying in their jobs is that the uncertain job market makes it too risky to leave.

Complacency vs. caution

Rather than showing that workers lack ambition, job hugging indicates that they understand the challenges facing them in 2026.

The job market has gotten so bad that, in a recent survey from SideHustles.com, 54% of workers said that it’s damaged their mental health.

Dmitrii Anikin, co-founder of the career intelligence platform SalaryGuide, told Forbes that job hugging isn’t a sign of complacency, but “a reflection of how today’s workers are navigating an unpredictable landscape.”

One major contributor to the slow labor market—and a factor behind workers tightening their grip on their jobs—is AI.

We spoke with Dr. Matt Hansan, a Ph.D. Economist and founder of the AI Humanist Movement, an organization that seeks to promote a “healthy partnership between humanity and intelligent machines.” Dr. Hansan told us that many companies are using technology to consolidate their workforce.

“Firms are looking to create AI-augmented workflows, reducing the demand for more routine roles,” he said, adding that, “One AI-enabled employee can often do the work that previously required several people.”

A 2025 study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) found that artificial intelligence can currently do the work performed by 12% of America’s workforce. 63% of US executives surveyed by LinkedIn believe that AI will eventually take over at least some of the entry-level tasks at their organizations.

AI-driven layoffs

Many business leaders have attributed their recent and ongoing layoffs to AI.

Beth Galetti, Senior Vice-President of People Experience and Technology at Amazon, stated in an October 2025 memo that they would be laying off 14,000 employees due to AI.

Jack Dorsey, CEO of Block, also cited it as the driving force behind their layoffs. Dorsey told Wired that AI tools are “presenting a future that entirely changes how a company is structured.”

Job hugging might seem like a sensible move in an unpredictable market, but it can have a negative impact on both workers and employers.

How job hugging affects workers

Job hugging can have a profound impact on workers’ well-being. 27% of respondents in Monster’s 2025 Job Hugging report said they feel less satisfied and “stuck” in their current roles. 1 In MetLife’s survey, only 18% of employees plan to stay with their employer because they truly want to.

Job hugging can also hinder employees’ career development. In Monster’s 2025 Job Hugging report, 94% of respondents acknowledged downsides to job hugging, such as missing out on higher pay (26%), burnout from lack of change (25%), and limited career advancement (25%). 1

Laura Ullrich, the director of economic research in North America at the Indeed Hiring Lab, told CNBC that “job switchers” (those who frequently change jobs) tend to see better wage growth than those who stick it out. She also said that job hugging can prevent workers from learning new skills or taking on more responsibilities—both of which may impact their career growth once the market improves.

How job hugging affects employers

It isn’t just workers who are impacted by job hugging. Employees who stay put despite wanting to leave tend to perform more poorly. In MetLife’s survey, only 50% of respondents who are staying in their jobs out of necessity said they’re actively engaged in their work. 2

“As employees cling to their jobs for security, retention alone can give employers a false sense of stability—even as well-being, engagement, and productivity quietly erode,” said Todd Katz, Head of US Group Benefits at MetLife.

With workers facing a challenging labor market, it’s likely that the trend of job hugging will continue. However, how long it will last depends on how much employees can put up with.

The next “Great Resignation”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the US experienced the “Great Resignation.” 47 million people quit their jobs in 2021, followed by another 50 million in 2022. Many left their jobs in search of more flexible working conditions and higher pay.

Economic conditions are different now, with the pendulum swinging back in favor of employers. However, Stacy DeCesaro, managing consultant of the consultancy firm Korn Ferry, told Fortune that she believes employees will be quick to leave their jobs “once the market improves.”

“Another Great Resignation is coming,” she said.

Gen Z: going it alone

Even the current challenges of the job market aren’t enough to keep some people from leaving, especially younger workers.

In a 2025 survey from SideHustles.com, 85% of Gen Z workers said they wanted to leave their current jobs to pursue their own businesses. Gen Z is also less likely to be inspired by company leadership—58% of respondents cited influencers as a reason they want to become entrepreneurs, and 46% of them said they want more purpose and autonomy in their work.

While the pandemic-era Great Resignation saw employees “hopping” jobs in search of flexibility or better pay, Gen Z may, instead, ditch the traditional career ladder altogether.

For now, workers are clinging to their jobs. Whether they will continue to do so as resentment builds up remains to be seen.