'Job hugging' is on the rise as workers cling to jobs

In a striking reversal from the "job-hopping" fervor that defined the early 2020s, a growing share of American workers are now exhibiting what career analysts call “job hugging” — staying in their current roles less from loyalty than fear. According to a February 2026 survey by ResumeBuilder.com, 57% of workers now identify as job huggers, up from 45% in August 2025, marking a rapid shift toward risk aversion in career decision-making. The term — coined in 2025 to describe employees who stick with their ...