Founder Reports surveyed 1,000 U.S. workers to examine why employees are staying in their current roles, how concerns about layoffs and AI are shaping workplace behavior, and what separates engaged employees from those who have quietly disengaged.

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What’s Inside the Report

The labor market appears stable based on low turnover and quit rates, but many employees are staying for reasons that have little to do with satisfaction or loyalty. This report uncovers how job market uncertainty and AI concerns are influencing engagement, discretionary effort, and employees’ outlook on work.

Download the free report for full details, including:

• 47% of U.S. workers say concerns about the job market or employment prospects play at least some role in why they’re staying in their current job, compared to 45% who say they’re staying purely because they want to.
• 70% of employees who stay because leaving feels too risky say they do only their assigned responsibilities and nothing more. Among employees who stay by choice, that figure drops to 38%.
• Overall, 49% of workers say they regularly go above and beyond what’s expected at work, while 51% report doing only what’s required or even less.
• 36% of workers believe putting in extra effort won’t protect them from layoffs or AI-related job loss. Among employees who stay mainly because of job market concerns, that rises to 55%.
• 39% of workers say they are at least moderately concerned that AI could reduce or eliminate their current role.
• Employees who worry about AI are almost twice as likely to believe extra effort is pointless: 49% feel that way, compared to just 27% of workers with little or no AI concern.
• Workers who stay because they feel they have few alternatives are also the most concerned about AI, with 48% reporting at least moderate concern about AI affecting their job.
• 57% of individual contributors report doing only what’s required (or less), compared to 39% of managers, despite both groups expressing similar levels of concern about AI.
• The connection between job insecurity and lower engagement is strongest among employees under age 55 and becomes much less pronounced among workers 55 and older.

About the Survey

Founder Reports surveyed 1,000 employed adults in the United States to better understand the relationship between job security, AI concerns, and workplace engagement. The study examines employees’ motivations for staying in their current jobs, their attitudes toward AI’s impact on their careers, and how those factors influence discretionary effort and engagement at work.

The full report includes the complete methodology, demographic breakdowns, and analysis of the survey findings.

The report is free to download. If you cite any of the data, we ask that you link back to this page.

For media inquiries, interview requests, or questions about the data, contact marc@founderreports.com.

Research by Founder Reports (founderreports.com)

The photo at the top of this page is by Syda Productions / Depositphotos.