A Pay Cut for a Steady Job? Economic Anxiety Fuels ‘Forever Jobs’

More than half of U.S. workers (54%) say they’d accept a pay cut just to keep working, according to Monster’s 2026 Job Security Report, which included responses from 1,020 U.S. employees polled on July 17. In 2024, more than half of Americans in a Ford Trends survey said they were willing to take a 20% pay cut to have a better work-life balance.

The reversal comes amid economic uncertainties making workers feel insecure about their financial footing and their futures, analysts said.

“A few years ago, workers prioritized work-life balance. Now, sentiments have shifted into protecting their job overall,” said Vicki Salemi, career expert at job listings site Monster. “Factoring in AI (artificial intelligence) anxiety, layoffs, and restructuring, job security reigns supreme. Their mindset falls more along the lines of ‘at least I still have a job,’ rather than pounding the pavement without a steady paycheck and health insurance.”

How Much Is Stability Worth?

More than 1 in 4 (26%) respondents said they’d take a pay cut of up to 5%, Monster said. Another 28% would accept a reduction of 5% or more, including 11% who would accept a pay cut greater than 10%.

“In today’s labor market, predictability and stability may outweigh the promise of higher earnings for many professionals,” Salemi said.

Three in 5 (61%) workers said they’d be willing to give up at least one aspect of their compensation or workplace experience, Monster said.

“That’s significant,” Salemi said. “The data shows that job security has become one of the most valuable assets when it comes to employment and compensation.”

What Americans Would Give Up for a Steady Job

More than a quarter (26%) of respondents said they’d sacrifice some bonuses, incentives, workplace perks or benefits, the survey showed.

Almost unheard of a few years ago, 23% said they’d give up workplace flexibility, including remote work options, data show. The right to remain remote has been a battleground between employees and major companies.

Seventeen percent even said they’d accept higher health insurance costs, Monster said.

How Can Workers Find a Steady, Secure Job?

If job security is important to you, Monster has some tips to use during your search. They include:

• Check the company’s financial health, including whether it’s profitable or laid off any employees recently.
• Ask about the company’s growth, expansion plans, organizational goals and measures of success.
• Evaluate the entire job offer. “A slightly lower salary may be worthwhile if the role offers greater long-term stability and growth,” the report said.
• Check employee tenure and turnover. “Organizations with strong retention often provide a more stable work environment and clearer career paths,” Monster said.
• Ask about job growth. “Job security matters, but so do opportunities to learn new skills and advance your career,” the report said.

Medora Lee is a money, markets and personal finance reporter at USA TODAY. You can reach her at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: A pay cut for a steady job? Economic anxiety fuels forever jobs

Reporting by Medora Lee, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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