3 in 5 Workers Willing to Forgo Raises Amid Layoff, Job Security Concerns

Wage growth is stalling in 2025, leaving many workers questioning whether job security is worth more than a raise. Zety surveyed more than 1,100 U.S. employees to investigate how raises—or the lack thereof—are affecting workplace behavior, career decisions, and priorities around benefits.

The Pay on Pause Report reveals that 41% of workers haven’t received a meaningful raise in more than two years, and the majority (61%) are willing to accept a smaller or no raise due to concerns about layoffs and job security.

The data illustrates a workforce that’s adjusting to limited raises and navigating trade-offs around pay, effort, and employment stability.

More key findings:

• Half of employees are just glad to have a job in this economy; 36% report feeling underpaid, but stuck.
• 45% of employees believe they deserve a 4%–6% raise this year, yet 66% avoided asking because of tariffs or other external pressures.
• 64% are very likely to search for a new job in the next six months.
• Health insurance (73%), including mental health support, and additional PTO (66%) are the most important non-salary benefits. 

Raises Still Lag Behind Expectations

Many employees haven’t seen a meaningful raise in years: 41% say it’s been more than two years since they’ve received a raise at their current job, and nearly 3 in 10 say their last raise was smaller than usual.

Given their performance, inflation, and other economic factors, employees say the following raises would be fair this year:

• 1%–3% (7%)
• 4%–6% (45%)
• 7%–10% (35%)
• More than 10% (13%)

What this means: The findings point to a long-term slowdown in wage growth that’s reshaping how employees measure progress. Raises are no longer viewed as routine but as a reflection of a company’s overall financial health and commitment to its workforce.

Pay and Workload Compromises on the Rise

Despite what they feel they deserve, many employees avoided asking for a raise this year due to: 

• The belief that their company can’t afford it (71%)
• Tariffs or other external pressures (66%)
• Fear of layoffs or instability (49%)

In fact, 61% say they’re more willing to accept not getting raises at work or a smaller one this year, while others are putting in extra effort or hours due to staffing shortages (34%) and job security worries (27%).

These trade-offs often reflect recent company actions, including:

• Decreased budget for raises or bonuses (89%)
• Layoffs or restructuring (70%)
• Office closures or consolidations (59%)
• Hiring freezes (50%)

What this means: Economic pressure is prompting a quiet recalibration between employers and staff. Many workers are reassessing the job security vs salary tradeoff and adjusting expectations around effort and reward, signaling a shift toward survival mode rather than advancement.

Evolving Career Mindset

How workers respond to pay and staffing pressures reflects their evolving career goals and outlook. When asked to describe their current mindset, employees report the following:

• I’m just glad to have a job (50%)
• I feel underpaid but stuck (36%)
• I’m actively planning my next career move (10%)
• I feel valued and compensated fairly (4%)

Highlighting their mix of caution and ambition, 64% say they are very likely to search for a new job in the next six months.

What this means: The shift suggests employees are reassessing what career stability really means. Many are staying put for now, but growing uncertainty could make them more responsive to new opportunities once conditions improve.

Non-Salary Benefits That Matter

As employees weigh their career satisfaction and potential job changes, many are placing greater importance on benefits beyond salary.

When asked which non-salary benefits are most important, employees ranked the following:

• Health insurance, including mental health support (73%)
• Additional paid time off (66%)
• Remote or flexible work options (57%)
• Career development or training (42%)
• Equity or bonuses (19%)
• Company-sponsored retirement contributions (4%)

What this means: The focus on health and time off reveals changing cultural priorities. Workers are redefining success less by income and more by how their jobs support their overall quality of life.

For press inquiries, contact Skyler Acevedo, Public Relations Specialist, at skyler.acevedo@bold.com.

Methodology

The findings presented are based on a nationally representative survey conducted by Zety on August 11, 2025. The survey collected responses from 1,101 U.S. workers, examining their pay trends, workplace trade-offs, and career priorities amid economic pressures. Respondents answered different types of questions, including yes/no, scale-based questions where they indicated their level of agreement with statements, and multiple-choice where they could select from a list of provided options.

About Zety

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