Employees remain in their jobs because of insecurity, not loyalty
Job hugging remains the norm in many workplaces across the world early this year, with employers warned against "misreading" why employees are choosing to stay in their current roles.
Data from the latest ResumeBuilder.com report revealed that 57% of employees in the United States now identify as job huggers, up from 45% in August 2025.
Job hugging refers to the recently observed trend of employees choosing to stay put in their current workplace rather than pursue new roles elsewhere.
The trend was strongly observed last year, and recent global data indicate that it is continuing in early 2026, contrary to the expected employee exodus at this time of the year.
In Singapore, 60% of employees in a ManpowerGroup report in January said they intend to remain with their current employer.
In Australia, LinkedIn research revealed that just 51% of employees are planning to search for a new role this year, down from the 59% reported in 2025.
In Canada, new figures from Robert Half suggest job optimism is rebounding this year, with more employees actively seeking a career change — though the share remains at just 33%.
Why are employees job hugging?
The reasons why employees are job hugging are extremely varied, but most data stress that it's not because of loyalty to the organisation.
Findings from ResumeBuilder.com noted that the rise in job-hugging employees is an indication of growing workforce anxiety.
Among job huggers in the report, 70% are worried that AI will impact job security in the next six months, while 63% are concerned about being laid off.
More than 80% of job huggers also said they are worried about the "last in, first out" policy if they joined a new employer.
These findings are consistent with reports across the world, where low employment confidence and job security concerns are emerging as the top drivers of job hugging.
"Employers must recognise that many workers are staying not out of loyalty, but out of necessity and fear," said Stacie Haller, chief career advisor at ResumeBuilder.com, in a statement.
Don't misread the calm
Whizdom, a staffing and recruitment firm in Australia, also warned employers against "misreading" why employees are choosing to stay.
"Job hugging makes the market look calm while it resets. That calm is built on risk management, not loyalty," it said on LinkedIn.
"The danger is misreading the stillness and reacting late. In 2026, the employers who struggle will not be the ones with movement. They will be the ones who mistook stillness for health."
Haller added that employers that fail to address the root causes will be left with employees who are stagnating, burnt out, and disengaged in their roles.
"Companies that focus on trust, recognition, and meaningful career growth will be better positioned when confidence in the market returns," she said.
