A substantial number of individuals employed within the nation’s information sector report feeling confident and relatively satisfied with their financial condition, a sense of security that stands in sharp contrast to the economic struggles faced by workers in warehousing and related fields. This notable difference in financial well-being was revealed in a newly released research report jointly prepared by Jobs for the Future, the Families & Workers Fund, the W.E. Upjohn Institute, and Gallup. The comprehensive study offers a nuanced picture of how thousands of American adults perceive not only their pay but also the broader quality and stability of their employment.
To evaluate what truly constitutes a “quality” job, the researchers established five principal dimensions that go beyond income alone. These included financial well-being — the core measure of economic stability and comfort; workplace culture and safety — encompassing the physical and psychological environments in which workers operate; opportunities for professional growth and development; employees’ agency and voice in organizational decision-making; and the structure and autonomy that define how work is organized and executed. Together, these criteria allowed the study to capture a multifaceted sense of how American workers experience their professional lives.
The survey, which collected responses from more than 18,000 individuals during January and February, took place in a period marked by significant economic crosscurrents. Inflation rates remained elevated, eroding purchasing power for many households, while the pace at which workers voluntarily left their jobs — commonly referred to as the “quit rate” — was relatively low. At the same time, wage growth was reported to be moderately strong, suggesting that recent pay increases had not entirely offset rising costs of living.
Financial comfort, according to the findings, varies substantially across industries, underscoring deep systemic disparities in American labor markets. Yet, in no single field did a majority of participants claim to be living comfortably. Across most sectors, the plurality of respondents indicated that they were simply managing — neither thriving nor in crisis, but existing somewhere in between. The industries where employees expressed the greatest sense of economic ease were largely white-collar professions such as information technology, professional and business services, and financial activities. Conversely, sectors traditionally associated with blue-collar or service-oriented work — including warehousing and logistics, retail trade, and leisure and hospitality — reflected a much larger concentration of individuals struggling to get by or barely meeting essential expenses.
The report emphasized a crucial insight: when employees experience genuine financial security, the benefits extend far beyond individual peace of mind. Workers who feel economically stable are statistically more likely to exhibit higher levels of physical health, emotional well-being, engagement at work, and overall productivity. These positive outcomes then reverberate outward, enhancing organizational performance and contributing to greater stability and growth within the broader economy.
Molly Blankenship, a director at Jobs for the Future, elaborated in an interview with Business Insider that measuring earnings alone fails to fully capture a person’s capacity to manage their financial lives. According to her, understanding how workers *feel* about their financial situation provides essential context, revealing the psychological and practical burdens hidden behind paycheck figures. She pointed out that factors such as variable or insufficient work hours can severely affect one’s ability to achieve financial stability, even when wages appear adequate on paper. Blankenship cautioned against simplistic assumptions about specific industries, explaining that unstable scheduling patterns — such as inconsistent weekly shifts or fluctuating hours — can make it dramatically harder for many workers to cover routine expenses or avoid missing bills.
Indeed, the survey’s data underscored the scale of this challenge: 62 percent of U.S. employees reported having unstable or unpredictable work schedules, a condition that introduces constant uncertainty into household planning and financial management. When all five measures of job quality were considered collectively, the researchers concluded that only about 40 percent of the American workforce currently occupies what can be classified as “quality jobs.” Among this group, just over half expressed notably high levels of both life satisfaction and job fulfillment.
The report ultimately paints a complex portrait of the American labor experience — one shaped as much by emotional and structural factors as by pure economics. It invites reflection not only on which sectors generate prosperity, but also on how stability, dignity, and predictability can serve as true barometers of economic well-being. For readers confronting the reality of living paycheck to paycheck, the research team encourages sharing personal stories and firsthand accounts, underscoring that the numbers alone only begin to describe the lived experiences behind the nation’s workforce statistics.
Sourse: https://www.businessinsider.com/work-wages-living-comfortably-financially-struggling-jobs-gallup-2025-10
