The path from “Great Resignation” to “Great Stay”: How job hugging is changing the American labour market

Once hailed for bold career leaps during the “Great Resignation,” American workers are now gripped by caution. A 2025 ResumeBuilder.com survey shows 46% identify as “job huggers,” staying put amid shrinking opportunities, layoffs, and AI disruption. What appears as stability masks stagnation, disengagement, and a fragile labour economy struggling under the weight of uncertainty.