Americans Fear of Losing Their Job Is Highest in 13 Years

Job anxiety in the United States has hit a 13-year high, according to recent data. Forty-four percent of Americans expect unemployment to rise, while only 52% feel confident they will find new employment after losing a job. The impact of this fear is particularly pronounced among white-collar workers earning over $100,000, as AI-driven restructuring has led to the elimination of 140,000 tech jobs in 2026. These workers are being hit hardest as corporations prioritize margin over headcount.

The data comes from the New York Fed's Survey of Consumer Expectations, which shows that the average expectation of a U.S. unemployment rate increase over the next year is now 44.4%, marking the highest level since tracking began in 2013. Despite this, the probability of finding a new job after a layoff has fallen to 51.8%, nearing a historic low.

The main driver behind this surge in worker anxiety is the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence across various sectors. Enterprise software giants like Alphabet (GOOGL) and Microsoft (MSFT) are integrating AI tools into corporate workflows, aiming to replace human labor in administrative, legal, and technical roles. This transition is causing significant restructuring in tech, finance, and corporate management sectors, with notable job cuts reported at Amazon, Oracle, Meta Platforms, and Microsoft.

Higher-earning households, making over $100,000 annually, are experiencing the brunt of this anxiety, reflecting a "white-collar slowdown." As corporations focus on efficiency ratios and free cash flow generation, the corporate playbook has shifted from growth-at-all-costs to margin preservation. For smart investors, this changing landscape suggests that building equity in cash-generating, dividend-paying enterprises with robust operating margins above 25% is a crucial strategy to insulate against labor market volatility.