A survey from Resume Now® has suggested that while many workers aspire to change careers, financial fears and skill gaps are keeping them stuck in jobs they no longer find fulfilling. The findings have come from the 2025 Career Gridlock Report, based on a survey of 1,000 US workers. Overall the survey found 60 per cent of respondents have stayed in their current roles longer than they wanted due to the perceived difficulty of making a career transition.
Despite nearly two-thirds (66 per cent) believing a career change could improve their happiness, only 13 per cent have successfully made the switch. 18 per cent are actively pursuing a career change, while 36 per cent have considered it but taken no action. Financial concerns dominate career change fears – 35 per cent fear taking a pay cut, and 34 per cent worry about financial instability.
Similarly, higher salary and benefits drive career changes with 57 per cent citing the desire for better pay and benefits as their top motivation for switching careers. 29 per cent are seeking better work-life balance as a primary reason for considering a career change.
“Career changes can feel daunting, especially when financial concerns and uncertainty come into play,” says Keith Spencer, career expert at Resume Now. “But today’s job market is shifting – employers are prioritising skills over degrees, and switching careers doesn’t mean starting from scratch. By leveraging transferable skills and taking a strategic approach to the job search, workers can transition into new roles with confidence.”
The findings provided were gathered through a Pollfish survey conducted of1,000 American workers on February 23, 2025. Participants were asked about their career satisfaction, willingness to switch industries, obstacles to career change, and preferred skill-building methods.
