I have written in the past about the pros and cons of “job hopping,” most prevalent in 2021 and 2022. But as Labor Day approaches, new research shows the cooling labor market has slowed, and job hugging is gaining momentum and replacing job hopping. Job hoppers are no longer getting a big bump in salaries, and the pattern is reversing, with job huggers finding that staying put might be a safer option for now.

Workers, notably Gen Z, are holding on to their jobs for dear life, not because they’re thriving, but because they’re unsure of what’s next. Amid massive layoffs, skyrocketing prices and the tightening economy, workplace worry and anxiety are at all-time highs. With so much economic uncertainty, more workers are finding that job hugging and staying put is more secure than taking unpredictable leaps........

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