As costs climb and wages remain flat, employees are facing tough trade-offs between financial security and long-term life goals. Zety, a resume templates service, released its Career Trade-Offs Report, uncovering how these pressures are influencing career moves, workload decisions, and the timing of major milestones.
Workers Are Priced Out of Progress
Homeownership, retirement savings, and family planning have all been delayed or abandoned in 2025, leaving employees feeling stuck and uncertain about the future. Zety’s Priced Out of Progress Report found that:
- 36% of workers feel anxious or frustrated about achieving life goals on their current salary.
- 37% report homeownership feels out of reach.
- 40% struggle to save for retirement.
- 50% feel starting or growing a family is unattainable.
Trade-Off: Many employees are postponing key life decisions, such as moving out or starting a family, to manage day-to-day expenses. Financial pressures are reshaping personal timelines and future plans.
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Debt is Shaping Career Decisions
Debt has become more than a financial burden, it’s now a career constraint. With nearly half of Americans owing $25,000 or more, debt is narrowing career options and fueling widespread anxiety about the future. According to Zety’s Debt & Career Impact Report:
- Nearly 2 in 5 (38%) workers have taken on second jobs just to cover debt payments.
- 37% have accepted jobs they didn’t want just to stay afloat.
- 78% fear U.S. tariffs will make it harder to manage or repay debt.
Trade-Off: High levels of debt are narrowing career options, pushing workers into roles or extra shifts they wouldn’t otherwise choose. Long-term ambitions are being sacrificed to meet immediate financial obligations.
Pay Gaps and Transparency Drive Employee Expectations
Fair compensation and transparency emerged as top priorities in 2025. Zety’s Pay Gaps & Perceptions Report highlights:
- 37% frequently compare their salary to others in their workplace or industry.
- 1 in 3 (32%) employees believe they’re underpaid compared to their peers.
- 77% say dissatisfaction with their salary has negatively impacted their work productivity or engagement.
- 9 in 10 (89%) say knowing salary ranges for roles in their organization would improve their trust in leadership.
Trade-Off: When salary fairness is unclear, employees invest energy in monitoring compensation instead of focusing on skills or advancement. As a result, engagement suffers while career development takes a backseat.
Employees Prioritize Job Stability Over Pay
2025 has forced workers to weigh compensation against job security amid industry layoffs and fears of AI-driven job loss. Zety’s Pay on Pause Report reveals that:
- 41% haven’t received a meaningful raise in more than two years.
- Most employees (45%) believe they deserve a 4-6% raise this year, yet 66% avoided asking because of tariffs or other external pressures.
- The majority (61%) are willing to accept a smaller or no raise due to concerns about layoffs and job security.
Trade-Off: Concerns about layoffs or economic shifts are prompting workers to accept smaller raises or pass on promotions. Security is taking priority over potential earnings, even when it limits financial growth.
“Many people are navigating careers with one eye on their paychecks and the other on the life they want to build,” said Jasmine Escalera, career expert for Zety. “Every decision about work now carries consequences for the future, determining how much progress they can make professionally while still managing personal priorities.”
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