A majority of U.S. workers — 54% — say job insecurity has significantly affected their stress levels at work, according to a May 21 report from the American Psychological Association.
In addition, 65% said their company has been affected by recent government policy changes, and 39% said they’re concerned about losing their job in the next 12 months due to those changes.
“When people feel their jobs are at risk, it creates a sense of uncertainty that can affect every aspect of their lives,” said Arthur Evans Jr., APA’s chief executive officer. “This cultural moment is threatening workers’ sense of stability, control and ability to meet their basic needs. And feelings of insecurity at work and poor mental health can amplify each other in a vicious cycle.”
In a survey of more than 2,000 U.S. adults, workers at companies affected by recent government policy changes were more likely to experience negative outcomes at work during the past month. Workers reported a lack of interest, motivation or energy, as well as emotional exhaustion and difficulty focusing.
Beyond that, workers who said government policy changes had significant or drastic effects on their company were more likely to say job insecurity significantly influenced their workplace stress.
Economic uncertainty played a major role in job security stress as well, with 44% saying they were concerned an economic slump, downtown or recession could lead to a personal layoff, furlough or job elimination within the year. Workers with economic concerns reported difficulty with sleep and personal relationship issues due to the stress.
Front-line workers, in particular, have reported anxiety, anger and stress due to global trade policy changes, according to a survey from UKG. More than half said they believe they’re at risk of being laid off, and nearly three-quarters said tariffs will affect their future earnings.
Worker anxiety about layoffs is increasing, hitting middle managers the hardest, according to a Perceptyx report. Poor communication could be a factor, with about half of workers saying they don’t understand why layoffs happened at their organization, the report found.
About three-fifths of U.S. workers believe federal policy changes could directly affect them, leading to layoffs, cuts to benefits or shifts in company culture, according to a Justworks report. Nearly half of workers said they’re looking to their HR team to help them understand the impacts, the report found.
Most workers said they’re experiencing stress and a low mood due to politics and current events, according to a Modern Health report. Nearly half said life was easier several years ago during the COVID-19 pandemic, and 62% said they feel pressured to work through burnout or mental health struggles, the survey found.
