Workforce Confidence Index · Wave 9 · Executive Summary Preview
Confidence Continues to Cool Across the U.S. Workforce
Fieldwork: April 1 – April 30, 2026
Job security
53%
Feel very or completely secure in their current role
Career movement
31%
Considering a move, searching, or likely to look within 12 months
Industry outlook
28%
Very or extremely confident in industry economic outlook
Industries represented
20+
Architecture, manufacturing, healthcare, technology, logistics, and more
Wave 9 findings
Overall workforce confidence remained relatively stable, but fewer workers expressed strong optimism as sentiment continued shifting toward the middle.
Economic slowdown, inflation, tariffs, and policy uncertainty remain major concerns across industries.
AI and automation emerged as one of the fastest-growing workforce concerns, especially around layoffs, restructuring, and long-term disruption.
Leadership confidence remained strongest closest to day-to-day operations, with direct managers receiving the highest confidence scores.
Trust in federal policy support and regulatory transparency remained limited, while industry publications and trade associations continued to lead in credibility.
Institutional trust
Company leadership
Trade associations
Federal government
Participants
Wave 9 included feedback from 614 professionals across more than 20 industries in the United States, spanning leadership, management, technical, skilled-trade, sales, and administrative roles.
Why it matters
Workforce sentiment often shifts before business behavior does. Monitoring confidence, institutional trust, and career outlooks over time helps organizations better understand emerging risks, workforce stability, leadership credibility, and economic pressure points shaping future decision-making.
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