As retirement slips further away, workers prioritize stability and senior home equity

America’s workers are clinging to their jobs at a decade-low quit rate of 2%, driven by fear rather than fulfillment, new data shows.

The research from Economist Enterprise surveyed 2,063 full-time employed Americans ages 18 to 62 across industries, including energy, manufacturing, media, financial services and government.

It found that 62% of workers now prioritize long-term job security over seeking new opportunities.

Thirty percent said they’ve stopped looking for new jobs over the past five years because of security concerns — rising t0 35% in financial services and insurance and 34% in manufacturing.

Government workers reported the lowest rate at 23%.

“America’s workers are prioritizing job stability and a strong benefits package, signaling a shift in how workers weigh risk versus reward in today’s competitive labor market,” said Matt Terry, who led the research at Economist Enterprise. “This cautious approach reflects a broader trend; workers are increasingly valuing predictability over advancement, which could have lasting implications for career growth and economic mobility.”

Retirement a moving target

Workers now expect to retire nearly four years later than they had planned.

Among those anticipating working past their ideal retirement age, only 20% cite job satisfaction as the reason. Instead, rising living costs (47%) and health care expenses (41%) — the latter jumping to 50% among low-income workers — drive the delay.

Lower-income workers expect to retire roughly six years later than desired. Even Gen Z, many of whom just entered the workforce full time, anticipate a five-year delay.

Financial services and insurance workers face the longest expected delay at 5.1 years, followed by manufacturing at 4.5 years.

Government workers report the smallest gap at 2.9 years.

Raiding savings and delaying life decisions

About one-third of workers (35%) have taken hardship withdrawals or loans from retirement accounts, with rates highest in financial services and insurance (44%) and manufacturing (41%) and lowest among government workers (23%).

Thirty percent said they have cut back retirement savings, rising to 36% among high-income workers.

Seventy-three percent have postponed buying a home or car — hitting 82% among millennials — while 43% have delayed or skipped medical care, including 51% in manufacturing and financial services.

One in four workers (25%) have postponed having children.

“The data in this report should give every employer pause. When workers feel financially insecure, they delay retirement, and that has real costs – both administrative and financial — for organizations carrying expensive, experienced employees who are ready to move on but don’t believe they can afford to,” said Brendan McCarthy, head of Nuveen Retirement Investing, which supported research in the report.

“Employers have more power to change that than they might realize…At a time when employees are craving stability and certainty, employers can stand out as an employer of choice by delivering a more modern approach to benefits that can help employees navigate key life milestones with more confidence.”

Senior housing wealth dips slightly

Separately, housing wealth among homeowners aged 62 and older declined less than 1% in the fourth quarter of 2025 to $14.62 trillion, according to the latest National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association (NRMLA)/RiskSpan Reverse Mortgage Market Index.

The 0.83% drop was driven by an approximate $100 billion decrease in home values — partially offset by a $21.8 billion rise in mortgage debt held by older homeowners.

“While we saw a modest dip in housing wealth at the end of 2025, the overall level of home equity among older Americans remains historically strong,” said Steve Irwin, president of NRMLA. “For many retirees, housing wealth continues to be a critical component of financial security and retirement planning.

“Even in a moderating market, reverse mortgages remain a valuable tool to help seniors access that equity and meet their evolving financial needs.”

This article was written by Jonathan Delozier and generated with the assistance of HousingWire Automation. It was reviewed by a HousingWire editor before publication. The system helps convert company announcements and industry data into HousingWire-style news coverage.