Job Security Anxiety Shapes Household Decisions
U.S. workers are increasingly recalibrating major financial decisions amid shifting perceptions of job stability, with a growing share delaying or scrapping high-cost purchases such as homes and vehicles, according to new survey data.
Roughly 36% of employed Americans say concerns about job security have led them to postpone or cancel a major purchase, marking a meaningful drag on consumer intent in large discretionary categories tied to housing and transportation. At the same time, about 31% report the opposite effect–either accelerating planned purchases or having already moved them forward due to similar concerns about employment stability.
The findings come from a nationally representative Ipsos survey conducted March 9-10, 2026, on behalf of Redfin. The sample included 1,005 U.S. adults, of whom 564 were working either full- or part-time. The combined worker subgroup carries a credibility interval of plus or minus 5.1 percentage points.
While job insecurity is influencing timing decisions at both ends of the spectrum, a plurality of workers–36%–report no change in their purchasing plans regardless of how they feel about their employment outlook.
The latest figures show a modest shift from late summer 2025, when 42% of workers reported delaying or canceling major purchases due to job security concerns, suggesting some easing of economic caution. However, the share of workers accelerating purchases has remained broadly stable over the same period.
Confidence Holds, But Unease Persists
Despite the behavioral shifts, overall confidence in job stability remains relatively firm. About 69% of workers describe themselves as either somewhat or very confident in their job security, nearly unchanged from 66% in the prior August survey.
Still, underlying anxiety is not insignificant. Roughly 27% now say they are at least somewhat concerned about retaining their jobs, and nearly one-third (32%) report feeling more worried about job security than they did six months ago. Only 18% say they have become more confident over that same period.
The intensity of concern has also moderated slightly since last year, when 37% of workers reported rising anxiety about job stability.
Corporate Performance and AI Among Leading Pressures
Among workers who express concern about job security, company performance remains the dominant driver, cited by 29% of respondents. Technological disruption is also emerging as a notable factor, with 18% pointing to artificial intelligence as a source of uncertainty.
Other contributors include government restructuring efforts (14%) and perceived issues with personal performance (12%), underscoring a mix of macroeconomic and firm-specific anxieties shaping workforce sentiment.
Financial Strain Showing Up in Housing Payments
Job-related concerns are also translating into near-term financial stress for some households. Seven percent of workers report missing a rent or mortgage payment in the past three months, while another 10% say they were late.
The impact is significantly more pronounced among those worried about job security. In that group, nearly 30% report either missing or paying late on housing obligations. By contrast, 70% of workers confident in their job stability say they have consistently paid on time.
Looking ahead, 15% of workers expect they may be late on housing payments in the next three months, and 13% say they could miss a payment entirely.
Emergency Savings Still Uneven
A majority of workers–55%–report having an emergency fund sufficient to cover rent or mortgage payments in the event of a financial disruption. However, more than one-third (34%) say they lack such a buffer.
Preparedness varies meaningfully by sentiment. Half of workers concerned about job security report having an emergency housing fund, compared with 59% among those confident in their employment outlook.
Among those with savings, liquidity levels differ: one in five say their emergency reserves would cover six months of housing costs, while 16% report coverage of three months.
Sign Up Free | The WPJ Weekly Newsletter
Relevant real estate news.
Actionable market intelligence.
Right to your inbox every week.
Real Estate Listings Showcase
Please visit:
Our Sponsor
