A Gallup analysis indicates that approximately 23 million adults in the U.S., or nearly a quarter of the workforce, are experiencing 'job lock,' remaining in positions they do not prefer to retain health insurance benefits. The analysis highlights that women and individuals with chronic health conditions are particularly affected, as healthcare costs restrict their career mobility, wage growth, and overall life satisfaction.
Key findings from the survey include: - 48% of respondents who view healthcare as a significant financial burden are remaining in unwanted jobs. - 53% of workers who report high stress due to healthcare costs are staying in these jobs for insurance. - 44% of those with personal or household medical debt are also in this situation. - 37% of workers who borrowed money for medical expenses in the past year are staying in unwanted jobs, compared to 22% of those who did not borrow.
The analysis also reveals that workers with chronic conditions are 12 percentage points more likely to report job lock compared to those without such conditions. The issue is more pronounced among women, with 66% of women affected compared to 57% of men. Additionally, 30% of women experience job lock, while 20% of men do.
The survey, conducted by Gallup from October 27 to December 22, 2025, included 5,660 U.S. adults, focusing on 2,322 employed respondents who rely on employer-sponsored health insurance. The findings coincide with broader challenges in healthcare affordability, as about half of Americans report difficulties in paying for care or prescriptions. Furthermore, 5 million Americans have dropped their health insurance in 2026 after the Trump administration did not extend subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. Large employers are also increasing insurance premiums by up to 10% this year due to rising healthcare costs, driven partly by expensive specialty drugs and high demand for weight loss medications that also treat diabetes.