While American workers report easing concerns about their personal finances compared with recent years, worries about overall well-being are on the rise, according to research from the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) and Greenwald Research. Inflation and healthcare costs continue to be the most significant sources of concern for workers.
The survey finds that although a majority of workers are satisfied with their jobs and value work-life balance, many feel disengaged and uncertain about the economy, healthcare affordability, and long-term security.
“Even as workers tell us their personal financial stress has eased compared with a few years ago, inflation and healthcare costs remain persistent pressure points—and that strain is showing up in rising concerns about overall well-being,” says Jake Spiegel, senior research associate, EBRI.
Key findings include the following.
- Concerns about physical, mental, and workplace well-being have climbed slightly, but financial well-being concerns has eased since 2022. Concern about physical, mental, and workplace well-being was slightly higher in 2025, with workers rating their level of concern an average of 5.8 out of 10. Additionally, there was a general trend of concern about financial well-being decreasing, with financial well-being concerns dropping from 6.9 to 6.3 between 2022 and 2025. Concerns about the economy going into a recession impacting finances in the next 12 months was the same as 2024 (80%), but 40% believe the U.S. economy is currently in a recession. Inflation (89%), the cost of healthcare (87%), and the cost of health insurance (86%) are other top concerns for American workers.
- Over half (56%) of workers were very or extremely satisfied with their current job, with only 13% expressing dissatisfaction. About 66% of the workers reported that their employers’ efforts to help employees manage their overall well-being has stayed the same, with 23% saying efforts have increased. Just over one-third rated their employer highly in improving their financial well-being. Work-life balance (53%) and doing meaningful work (42%) contributed most to workers’ sense of workplace well-being.
- Work-life balance continues to be valued by American workers. Over half (53%) of the workers indicated that work-life balance is one of the top three benefits valued most, outside of income and compensation. Eight in 10 workers were at least somewhat satisfied with the PTO benefits they get at work.
- Workers reported similar satisfaction with their benefits package as in prior years, with top suggestions for improvement being a greater employer contribution and more flexibility of benefits to choose from. Over four in 10 workers were extremely/very satisfied with their benefits package, in line with prior years. Top improvements suggested were greater financial contributions from their employer (48%), more flexibility of choice (34%), more resources/benefits to help with financial well-being (33%), and PTO conversion (31%).
