Latest Release: 2026 Q1The ZipRecruiter Job Seeker Confidence Survey
The ZipRecruiter Job Seeker Confidence Survey is a nationally representative quarterly survey of U.S. job seekers that measures how optimistic or pessimistic they are about their ability to land their preferred jobs. Increased confidence is typically an indicator of future increases in employee turnover, wage growth, and labor force participation.
Data Spotlight
The ZipRecruiter Job Seeker Confidence Index fell 0.8 points in the third quarter of 2025, landing at 96.9 – a slight downtick from last quarter’s gains. The data highlights an encouraging trend: even as job seekers recognize challenges in the labor market, their confidence in their own ability to navigate it continues to grow.
Financial Wellbeing Index
Self-reported financial well-being continued to improve
⇧ 16.20
⇧ 0.8
Expectations Index
Job seeker optimism about the medium-term labor market dramatically improved
Preparedness Index
Job seekers’ confidence in navigating the job search process edged lower, off a historic high, but still above 2022 levels
⇧ 5.8
Present Situation Index
Job seekers’ assessments of current labor market conditions improved as uncertainty in the market cleared
⇩ 4.3
U.S. Job Seeker Confidence
The ZipRecruiter Job Seeker Confidence Index grew by 2.9 points in the first quarter of 2026, landing at 99.8 – the highest it’s been since 2022. The Expectations Index took a large leap forward, with job seekers having much more positive expectations about the market than in the past several quarters, a positive sign as the labor market shows early signals of a turnaround.
Job seeker sentiment improved in the first quarter of 2026, with higher confidence in current job prospects and more optimism about the future of job availability. This is leading to a more balanced tone from job seekers who are adapting their strategies to stay competitive in an ever-changing labor market.
“Job seekers are cautiously optimistic that conditions for the job search will continue to improve, even as many feel the current market lacks relevant opportunities. They are taking pragmatic steps to make the most of the opportunities that come their way, proving resilience in the midst of uncertainty.”
The present situation was improving—at least through January
Job seekers have changed their tune on their current view of the labor market. Over half (57.8%) of current job seekers believe it is at least somewhat easier to find a job than six months ago, a nearly 9-point lead over Q4 levels. The data is mixed on how that is playing out so far into 2026. While January posted a surprise gain, February showed a surprise loss, leaving job growth essentially flat over the past three months. But job seekers remain optimistic. And for most, the expectation of landing a good job in this search is high. Over three in four (75.3%) job seekers are somewhat or completely confident that they will find a good job within a month, up from 68.8% in Q4. As the current view of the labor market becomes more positive, or at least job seekers are becoming more realistic about how they can navigate their search, the Present Situation Index is increasing.
Expectations are rising - but that may be temporary
The future outlook improved significantly, at least through January. After reaching a historic low in Q4 2025, the Expectations Index began to recover in 2026. Nearly three-quarters of job seekers (73.5%) expect there to be the same amount or more jobs available in the next six months, up from 60.5% in Q4.
Early signs indicated that employers were starting to adopt a more flexible approach, which could boost confidence in the job market among job seekers. However, the conflict in the Middle East is putting a pause on the momentum that was built in January. Inflation has begun creeping back up, especially with energy prices rising, and consumer sentiment has dropped from a recent high. Job seeker expectations for the future are cautiously optimistic, but recent events could throw a wrench in the future outlook for many.
Job seekers are optimistic, but pragmatic about their financial wellbeing
That optimism is slowly trickling into the Financial Wellbeing Index for job seekers. Eight in ten (80.9%) job seekers who have had previous employment are at least somewhat confident they will find a job that pays more than their last position. But job seekers are still being pragmatic when it comes to the realities of the financial side of the job search. Despite better expectations about the macroeconomic conditions and the future of their pay, nearly two-thirds (63.4%) of job seekers feel financial pressure to accept the first offer they receive.
Job seekers are still prepared, but feel that opportunities are lacking
The pressure to accept the first offer might be influenced by the challenge many job seekers face in even finding relevant jobs in the first place. With near flat job growth over the past 3 months and a slow hires rate, it’s not surprising that job seekers feel they are hitting a wall with finding opportunities. In Q1, 14.3% of job seekers reported no confidence in their ability to find jobs that match their skills, experiences, and interests, up from 8.8% in Q4.
The most significant pain point was the lack of relevant opportunities, with nearly four in ten (39.5%) citing this as a major challenge. While job seekers generally remain confident about finding a good position, it seems their ideal jobs may not be available in the current market, or they may not possess the necessary qualifications. The primary barrier job seekers identify in securing a role is a lack of appropriate work experience. This issue does not solely affect younger workers with less experience; workers under 55 across all age groups reported lack of relevant experience as their top search barrier, with older workers citing ageism as a close second.
Despite a lack of opportunities, more than half (54.3%) of job seekers reported receiving at least one job offer in their search, up from 48.6% in Q4. The optimism leading the future outlook is not misplaced; job seekers are just being more strategic about how they approach their search.
This index reflects the resiliency of job seekers
Despite the challenges job seekers face in this market, 2026 is starting out on a stronger footing than 2025 ended on. Recent shifts to tariff policy and geopolitical tensions could have a downside effect on these metrics while the uncertainty plays out. But the past year has been full of uncertainty, and job seekers have adapted their strategies and skills to stay on top.
The Survey
The quarterly ZipRecruiter Job Seeker Confidence Survey is based on an online sample and conducted for ZipRecruiter by PureSpectrum. It is administered to 1,500+ job seekers between October 22nd and November 4th and weighted to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. Respondents may be employed, unemployed, or not currently in the labor force, but they must reside in the United States and plan to find a new job “in the next six months” in order to be included in the sample.
The ZipRecruiter Index
The overall ZipRecruiter Job Seeker Confidence Index comprises four subindices:
The Preparedness Index measures how confident job seekers feel about their job skills, education, and training, as well as about their job search skills—that is, their ability to find relevant positions, develop application materials, and interview effectively.
The Financial Wellbeing Index measures job seekers’ financial security—that is, whether they have peace of mind about their ability to meet their financial needs, or whether they are searching for work and negotiating job offers under financial pressure.
The Expectations Index captures job seekers’ short-term outlook for labor market conditions. It is based on questions about whether job seekers expect the number of available jobs to increase or decrease.
The Present Situation Index is based on job seekers’ assessment of current labor market conditions. It is based on questions about whether they expect to get interviews, find a job easily, and get the job they want, and how satisfied they are with their job search.