Americans Grow Increasingly Pessimistic About Job Market

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A new Gallup survey shows Americans' outlook on the job market has turned increasingly pessimistic, with just 28% of workers saying now is a 'good time' to find a quality job, a sharp reversal from a few years ago when 70% said it was a good time. The survey found job pessimism is especially pronounced among college graduates, with only 19% thinking it's a good time to find a job compared to 35% of workers without a college degree.

Why it matters

The growing job market pessimism reflects an ongoing hiring drought, even as the unemployment rate remains low. This disconnect suggests the job market may be weaker than headline figures indicate, with hiring sluggish and many Americans struggling to find permanent work.

The details

The Gallup survey, conducted in late 2025, found a sharp decline in worker optimism about the job market compared to just a few years earlier. As recently as late 2024, just under half of workers said it was a good time to search for a job. But by the final three months of 2025, that figure had plummeted to just 28%, with 72% saying it was a bad time. The survey also found a split based on education levels, with college graduates much more pessimistic than those without a degree.

• The Gallup survey was conducted from October 30 to November 13, 2025.
• In mid-2022, 70% of workers said it was a good time to find a quality job.