Productivity Surged 4.9%
Workers are producing more. Their purchasing power isn't keeping pace.
Series
One Number
Single figures from the labor data, taken apart.
57 pieces
Seven in Ten Workers Under 50 Are Disengaged
Engagement hit record lows in 2024, and younger workers are checking out faster than anyone else.
Workers Have Stopped Quitting
The quits rate has been frozen at 2.0% for over a year. Workers aren't leaving because they have nowhere better to go.
One in Five Unemployed Workers Searched for 27+ Weeks
Long-term unemployment is rising and it's changing who's available when you're hiring.
Half of Workers Can Pause Work
Work autonomy varies wildly by occupation and that gap drives retention differences you can fix without spending a dollar.
Only 8 Metro Areas Are Actually Hiring
97% of U.S. metros saw zero job growth, talent is trapped, geographic concentration is accelerating, and the contrarian play is poaching while everyone else stays frozen.
Inflation Erased December's Wage Gains
Real wages flat despite nominal gains. Hours contracted. Workers earned less in December than November.
Youth Unemployment Hits 18%
No junior hires in 2026 = no mid-level talent in 2029—you can't manufacture experience on demand.
Office Attendance is Rising
Promotion patterns and a stark labor market shift are changing behavior better than RTO mandates could have dreamed of.