Overview

• May data from Glassdoor’s Employee Confidence Index shows only 43.4% of entry-level workers feel positive about their employers’ prospects, the lowest level since tracking began in 2016.
• Overall employee optimism also hit a record low of 44.1% in May, down from 45.8% the previous month.
• Mentions of layoffs on Glassdoor rose 9% month-over-month and 18% year-over-year, underscoring growing job security concerns.
• Economic uncertainties around tariffs and personal experiences with past layoffs combine with rapid automation advancements to heighten early-career anxiety.
• According to Glassdoor’s lead economist, future optimism will depend on whether hiring ramps up and economic conditions improve later this year.