Career Gridlock: 60% of Workers Feel Trapped in Jobs They Want to Leave

A new survey from Resume Now reveals a growing trend—Career Gridlock: workers trapped in jobs due to financial fears, skill gaps, and uncertainty, even as they seek change. According to the 2025 Career Gridlock Report, based on a survey of 1,000 U.S. workers, 60% have stayed in roles longer than they wanted because transitioning careers feels too difficult. While many believe a career shift could improve their well-being, few actually take the leap.

As career pivots gain acceptance and industries shift toward skills-based hiring, workers may have more opportunities than they realize. However, overcoming Career Gridlock requires a strategic approach to upskilling, financial planning, and career exploration—key areas this report examines in depth.

Key Findings

• Career change as a path to happiness – Despite nearly two-thirds (66%) believing a career change could improve their happiness, only 13% have successfully made the switch.
• Current career transitions – 18% are actively pursuing a career change, while 36% have considered it but taken no action to leave their jobs.
• Workers struggle to break free from unfulfilling jobs – 60% have stayed in a role longer than they wanted.
• Financial concerns dominate career change fears – 35% fear taking a pay cut, and 34% worry about financial instability.
• Career pivots are becoming more socially accepted – 68% say career shifts are more acceptable now than five years ago.
• Workers prioritize faster, more flexible upskilling – 56% prefer on-the-job learning over returning to school, and only 16% would pursue a new degree.

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Fear of Pay Cuts and Financial Instability Are Top Barriers to Career Change

For many workers, the biggest obstacle to switching careers isn't lack of interest—it's financial risk. Concerns about salary cuts, job stability, and uncertainty about a new role keep employees stuck in jobs they want to leave.

• Financial instability and salary concerns are the biggest barriers to career change – 35% fear starting over at a lower salary, while 34% worry about financial instability during the transition.
• Uncertainty about career fit adds to the hesitation – 32% are uncertain whether a new career would be a good fit, adding another layer of caution.
• Skill gaps and competition are also top concerns – 20% are worried about gaining the necessary skills, and 14% fear competing with more experienced candidates.

The following is a visualization of the most common reasons that workers feel unable to leave jobs that no longer meet their needs:

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Top Motivators for Career Changers

While financial fears hold many workers back, the desire for better pay, work-life balance, and job satisfaction continue to push employees toward new opportunities.

• Higher salary and benefits drive career changes – 57% cite the desire for better pay and benefits as their top motivation for switching careers.
• Work-life balance is a key priority – 29% are seeking better work-life balance as a primary reason for considering a career change.
• Remote work continues to be a growing appeal – 19% are drawn to the flexibility of remote work opportunities.
• Job dissatisfaction fuels many career transitions – 17% are motivated by burnout or dissatisfaction with their current job, while 15% are driven by passion for a new industry or role.

Workers Prefer On-the-Job Learning Over Traditional Education

For career changers, gaining new skills doesn't necessarily mean going back to school. Many prefer learning through hands-on experience or employer-provided training rather than committing to a formal degree program.

• On-the-job learning is the top choice for career changers – 56% prefer gaining new skills through self-teaching or employer-provided training rather than returning to school.
• Formal education takes a backseat – Only 16% would go back to school for a degree, while 32% would opt for an online certification.

Career Changers Want Quick Upskilling

For most career changers, speed is key. Instead of years of education, workers seek fast, flexible training to transition into new roles.

• Speed matters for career changers – 56% are only willing to invest six months or less in gaining new skills for a career transition.
• Short-term training is preferred – Nearly a quarter (24%) want to upskill in less than three months, while 32% are open to a three to six month commitment.
• Long-term education is a tough sell – Only 9% are willing to spend more than two years preparing for a career change, showing a strong preference for fast, flexible learning options.

Methodology

The findings provided were gathered through a Pollfish survey conducted of 1,000 American workers on February 23, 2025. Participants were asked about their career satisfaction, willingness to switch industries, obstacles to career change, and preferred skill-building methods. Participants responded to various question types, including yes/no questions, open-ended questions, scale-based questions gauging agreement levels, and questions that permitted the selection of multiple options from a list of answers.

For press inquiries, contact Joseph Santaella at joseph.santaella@bold.com.

About Resume Now 

Resume Now is a powerful resource dedicated to helping job-seekers achieve their potential. Resume-Now's AI resume builder is a cutting-edge tool that makes creating a resume fast, easy, and painless. Resume Now has been dedicated to serving job seekers since 2005. Alongside its powerful AI resume builder and stylish, ready-to-use templates, it also features free advice for job seekers at every career stage, guides for every step of the hiring process, and free resources for writing cover letters. Resume-Now is committed to supporting job seekers and workers alike and has conducted numerous surveys related to the experience, trends, and culture of the workplace. These surveys have been featured in Business Insider, CNBC, Fast Company, Yahoo!, Forbes, and more. Keep up with Resume-Now on LinkedIn, Facebook, X, and Pinterest.

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Keith Spencer, CPRW

Career Expert

Keith is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and trusted media source in the career industry with over a decade of experience helping job seekers stand out.

Read more articles by Keith Spencer, CPRW