The average perceived likelihood of finding a job if one lost their current role fell to 43.1% in December 2025, a 4.2% decrease from last year, according to recent data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

This marks a record low since surveys began tracking data back in 2013, and the report says many demographics are driving the lowest job expectations.

The lowest incomes in the country with less than six figures, those without college diplomas, and perhaps surprisingly, baby boomers over the age of 60—on the brink of retirement—have the lowest confidence in finding a job today.

All workers are worried — even professionals who have regular jobs think they’re going to be laid off

“Americans don’t feel like the current job market is working for them,” said Daniel Zhao, chief workplace economist. GlassdoorSPEAKING Good luck. “Workers at the lower end of the income spectrum or without a college degree are often more vulnerable to changes in the business cycle, so it’s natural for them to be more concerned about signs of an economic slowdown.”

Even professionals holding down a gig worry they’re on shaky ground. The perceived probability of losing a job in the next year rose to 15.2%, up 1.4% from last year, according to the report. But a lot don’t assume that they came out voluntarily: the expected quit rate in the next twelve months has decreased, down to 17.5%.

“In general, workers are concerned about job security because they have seen prominent layoffs in the headlines and heard from their laid-off friends that they are having trouble returning to work,” Zhao explained.

“Even workers who are currently employed feel trapped in their jobs because the current job market limits their ability to find better work and leverage to get a raise or internal promotion.”

Why baby boomers are the most worried about the job market

Americans age 60 and older have a perceived likelihood of 33% to find a new job if they lose their current role—almost 10% lower than the national average. However, AI automation is unlikely to be the cause of their job’s demise. Glassdoor’s chief economist points to the fact that baby boomers are on the brink of retirement, and are being sidelined for opportunities based on their age.

Workers age 65 and older have seen labor force participation, employment and unemployment all decline, but some of this may be due to workers aging out of the workforce rather than a reflection of their financial situation,” Zhao said.

Baby boomers were right to worry about their job prospects once laid off—their fears proved to be true. Among US citizens between the ages of 50 and 65, 14% got fired once in the last 10 years, with 4% fired more than once, according to a 2025 WSJ analysis of a Boston College Retirement Study. Even among Gen Xers and baby boomers who have experienced layoffs at least once, 24% have not been able to find a new job.

Older generations also have to sift through job boards longer to finally land a gig. While Gen Z and millennials aged between 25 and 34 mostly unemployed an average of 19 weeks, Gen Xers and baby boomers ages 55 to 64 have been unemployed for 26 weeks, according to WSJ analysis from last year. And even if the older generation was able to score a job, 11% were forced to take a salary.

Because of age and the expectation that they will retire soon, baby boomers also passed of powerful promotions and bigger salaries. About 22% of employees 40 and over say their workplaces skip older workers for challenging tasks, and 16% say they’ve witnessed a pattern passed for promotions in favor of younger staff, according to a 2024 study from Resume Now.

Even more eyebrow-raising is the fact that they’re not being paid what they’re worth: some 49% of older workers say they earn less than their Gen Z and younger millennial peers for doing the same job.