Americans Increasingly Pessimistic About Job Market, Gallup Survey Finds

Outlook on job prospects has sharply declined in recent years, especially among college graduates and younger workers.

Mar. 24, 2026 at 1:30pm

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A new Gallup survey has found that 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, compared to 70% who felt that way just a few years ago. The survey reveals a stark divide, with college graduates and younger workers especially gloomy about their job prospects.

Why it matters

The growing job market pessimism among Americans, even as the unemployment rate remains low, suggests broader economic unease and could have implications for consumer spending, hiring, and the overall economic outlook.

The details

The Gallup survey, conducted in late 2025, found that the share of workers who say it's a "good time" to find a quality job has plummeted from 70% in mid-2022 to just 28% currently. This shift is especially pronounced among college graduates, with only 19% of those with a degree feeling optimistic about the job market compared to 35% of those without a college 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.

The players

Gallup

An American analytics and advisory company that provides data-driven news based on U.S. and global polls, surveys, and performance management solutions.

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The takeaway

The Gallup survey findings suggest a growing sense of economic unease and uncertainty among American workers, particularly younger and more educated workers, despite relatively low unemployment rates. This could signal broader challenges in the job market and economy that policymakers may need to address.