Source: Fortune
Summary
A recent Glassdoor poll found that 53% of U.S. workers have paused their job search due to mental health concerns. The “low-hire, low-fire” economy, characterized by a low hiring rate and low firing rate, has led to a lack of job opportunities and a sense of burnout among workers. The quits rate has dropped to 1.9%, and Americans believe they have only a 45% chance of finding a new role within three months. Many workers are feeling stuck in their current roles, with 25.2% of new hires landing their dream job in Q4 2025, down from 36.2% the prior quarter.
Our Reading
The numbers tell one story.
Google and LinkedIn tabs remain open, untouched, as workers pause their job search due to mental health concerns. The low-hire environment has become a deliberate corporate posture, with many CEOs having no plans to increase headcount in 2026. Job seekers are being ghosted at a three-year high, with more than half of applicants reporting no response from employers. Burnout mentions in Glassdoor company reviews have surged 65% year-over-year. The youngest workers, Gen Z, are drawing the starkest conclusions, with nearly one in four considering ditching desk jobs for the trades.
The exhaustion tax is real.
Author: Evan Null
