Second Quarter 2026 Worker Confidence Index

By Alexis Voglino-Whyte

What is the Worker Confidence Index?

The Worker Confidence Index (WCI) measures and evaluates employee attitudes, confidence levels in upwards mobility and pay increases, and overall security within their current positions. Unlike other indices, the WCI addresses the employee perspective through extensive online interviews among US-based workers that are 18 and older.

The WCI tracks job security, trust in company leadership, the likelihood of receiving a raise, and the likelihood of receiving a promotion. Using these performance indicators, the WCI shows the changing attitudes of workers and how this could impact the quality of their contributions.

Q2 2026: What’s the state of the current labor market?

• Unemployment averaged 4.2% as the number of job openings, hires, and total separations are relatively unchanged. Only 344,000 jobs were added throughout the second quarter of 2026 compared to over 460,000 added in the second quarter of 2025.
• Amid high levels of inflation, the Federal Reserve opted to keep rates steady for the second consecutive quarter. Short-term yields are expanding, complicating action and long-term progress.
• The US stock market experienced strong growth. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 both recorded their best quarter since Q2’2020.
• Other similar indices, like Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index® and the University of Michigan’s Consumer Sentiment index, fluctuated throughout the second quarter. The quarterly average of the Consumer Confidence Index® increased from 89.2 to 91.8.

Overview of the Q2 Worker Confidence Index:

In the second quarter of 2026, the WCI increased to 104 from 98. All indices increased by over four points as the WCI reached its highest point in over a year.

• Job Security: Workers are feeling even more confident in their positions as the job security index grew by 4.1 points to 97.3, though this is the slightest increase across the indices. Interestingly, men and women have matching levels of job security as 13.9% fear job loss. High levels of job security among employees aged 45 to 64, those with a high school diploma or less, and on-site workers propelled this increase.
• Likelihood of a Promotion: In total, 45.3% of workers anticipate receiving a promotion. As internal mobility becomes paramount to a successful retention strategy, workers may be more eagerly anticipating promotions. Workers aged 65 and over, high-income earners, African Americans, and remote workers felt the most substantial increases in confidence.
• Likelihood of a Raise of at least 3%: Nearly 60% of workers anticipate receiving a raise as anticipation builds amid economic uncertainty. Women, workers aged 65 and over, lower-income earners, and workers with a high school diploma or less drove the uptick in confidence.
• Trust in Company Leadership: Levels of company leadership trust rose by 8.1 points, the most of any index within the WCI. Another piece of employee retention, trust in company leadership increased in all demographics surveyed. Trust grew the most among workers aged 45 to 54, those earning between $35,000 and $50,000, Caucasians, hybrid workers, and on-site workers.

Read the full report, sponsored by LevelUP, to learn more about the labor market, economic trends, and the impact on worker confidence.