6 in 10 Workers Are Clinging To Their Jobs as Job Hugging Soars in 2026

A February 2026 survey from ResumeBuilder.com reveals that the percentage of workers identifying as “job huggers” has surged from 45% in August 2025 to 57% in February 2026, a 12-point jump in just five months. This rapid escalation signals a workforce that has moved from caution to active risk aversion as layoff fears and AI-driven displacement become front-of-mind.