American workers are feeling a bit less anxious about their personal finances than they did a few years ago. But they’re still worried about healthcare costs, achieving work-life balance and holding onto their jobs as the cost of everything else — food, housing and transportation — continues to rise.
Understanding these concerns? That’s a key for companies hoping to attract new employees and persuade their existing workers to spend more time in the office. And more employees willing to return to the office? That’d be good news for anyone working in the U.S. office sector.
Worker concerns about overall well-being—including physical and mental health, job security and the rising cost of health care—are climbing, according to the Sixth Annual Workplace Wellness Survey released late last month by the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) and Greenwald Research.
The findings point to a workforce that is largely satisfied with its jobs and increasingly focused on work-life balance, yet uneasy about inflation, health care affordability and long-term economic stability.
The nationwide survey examined attitudes toward employment-based benefits, financial and mental well-being, health insurance and retirement plans. Researchers surveyed 1,401 full- and part-time workers ages 21 to 64 through 20-minute online interviews conducted between July 18 and Aug. 5, 2025.
“Even as workers tell us their personal financial stress has eased compared with a few years ago, inflation and health care costs remain persistent pressure points, and that strain is showing up in rising concerns about overall well-being,” said Jake Spiegel, senior research associate at EBRI, in a statement. “The results suggest employers have an opportunity to strengthen engagement by pairing competitive benefits with greater flexibility and support that helps people feel more secure.”
The survey shows that concerns about physical, mental and workplace well-being ticked up slightly in 2025, with workers rating their level of concern at an average of 5.8 out of 10. At the same time, anxiety about financial well-being has eased since 2022, dropping from 6.9 to 6.3.
Still, economic unease remains widespread. Eighty percent of workers who responded to the survey said they are concerned that a recession could affect their finances over the next 12 months, unchanged from 2024, while 40% believe the U.S. economy is already in a recession. Inflation topped the list of worries, cited by 89% of respondents, followed closely by the cost of health care (87%) and health insurance (86%).
Despite these concerns, most workers remain relatively satisfied with their jobs. Fifty-six percent reported being very or extremely satisfied, while just 13% said they were dissatisfied. About two-thirds said their employer’s efforts to support employee well-being have stayed the same, and 23% said those efforts have increased.
Workplace well-being, according to respondents, is driven less by compensation and more by quality-of-life factors. Work-life balance was cited by 53% of workers as the biggest contributor to their sense of well-being, followed by doing meaningful work at 42%.
That emphasis shows up clearly in how employees view benefits. More than half of workers ranked work-life balance among their top three most-valued benefits, outside of pay. Eight in 10 said they were at least somewhat satisfied with their paid time off. While paid vacation and sick time remain the most common offerings, several nontraditional benefits gained ground in 2025, including paid volunteer time, paid sabbaticals, child care support and elder care assistance.
Satisfaction with benefits packages overall has remained steady in recent years. More than four in 10 workers said they were very or extremely satisfied, but many still see room for improvement. Nearly half said they want greater employer contributions, while others pointed to a desire for more flexibility, additional financial wellness resources and the ability to convert unused PTO.
Health insurance remains the single most important benefit influencing whether workers stay in a job or look elsewhere, cited by 72% of respondents. Retirement savings plans followed at 62%.
The survey also explored attitudes toward artificial intelligence in the workplace. About half of workers said they are comfortable using AI-powered tools to help manage finances or navigate benefit options, and 61% agreed that AI tools can help them do their jobs more efficiently. At the same time, skepticism is growing: more than a third of respondents worry that expanded use of AI could eliminate their job, an increase from last year.
“Work-life balance continues to be a defining priority for workers,” said Greg Hershberger, managing director of health and benefits at Greenwald Research. “They’re looking for benefits that don’t just exist on paper but make day-to-day life easier. At the same time, we’re seeing cautious interest in AI paired with real concern about what it could mean for jobs.”
