The majority of U.S. workers are feeling trapped in “ghost growth,” wherein their titles (and workloads) climb, but their actual compensation, authority, and meaningful advancement do not, according to a new survey by MyPerfectResume.
Highlights from the survey:
65% of workers report experiencing ghost growth—career progress with no real reward.
78% have picked up new responsibilities without a raise or promotion.
Only 15% have received a raise that reflected expanded duties.
66% believe their employer engages in “growth theater”—performative development with no real substance.
53% of workers say they have been promised promotions or opportunities that never materialized.
68% of survey respondents say they have considered quitting due to fake or performative growth, such as a promotion with no raise.
To workers, real career progress is defined as higher pay (27%), better work-life balance (18%), leadership roles or a clear promotion path (16%) or new skills (15%).
Read more via MyPerfectResume
Financial stress is widespread among employees, and offering financial wellness benefits is a powerful retention lever, according to a new PNC survey.
68% of employees report being “somewhat” or “very” stressed about finances (slightly down from 70% in 2024).
81% say they would be more likely to stay with an employer that offers financial wellness benefits (up from 78% in 2024).
67% of workers say they live paycheck to paycheck (up from 63% last year).
72% of workers feel at least “somewhat” confident in managing debt.
A gap exists in retirement perceptions: 78% of employers believe workers are prepared for retirement, but only 45% of workers agree.
Workers report growing agency: 62% say they feel in control of their finances in 2025, up from 56% in 2024.
Read more via PNC
Strong workplace friendships are increasingly valued by workers, according to KPMG’s Friends at Work 2025 report. Feelings of isolation are on the rise, especially among remote workers, which may be why genuine connection is becoming a more integral part of overall job satisfaction and retention.
57% of workers would accept 10% lower pay to work with close friends.
KPMG calls this a “20% salary premium” for strong workplace relationships.
45% report feeling lonely at work, nearly double last year’s figure.
89% say employer-facilitated social opportunities are “very important.”
Nearly all respondents (99%) are open to AI companionship tools—but half say technology can deepen isolation.
Gen Z places the highest value on friendships at work (90% vs. 77% of Boomers).
We’re witnessing a friendship mirage in the workplace—universal connection on the surface, increasing loneliness underneath."
Read more via KPMG
Bank of America has increased its U.S. minimum wage to $25 per hour, increasing the "minimum annualized salary for full-time employees in the U.S." to over $50,000. The increase takes effect this month and "applies to all full-time and part-time hourly positions in the U.S." According to Bank of America, starting salaries for full-time U.S. employees "have gone up by more than $20,000 since 2017." (Bank of America)
Amazon recently announced it is spending "more than $1 billion" as part of an effort to both increase wages and lower health care costs for its workers. Amazon says it is increasing the average pay to "more than $23 per hour." Some employees with more tenure will see their wages increase "between $1.10 and $1.90 per hour." On average, full-time employees "will see their pay increase by $1,600 per year." Amazon is reducing "weekly contributions by 34% and co-pays by 87% for primary care, mental health and most non-specialist visits for employees using the basic plan." (Associated Press)
Last week, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced "major pay increases for law enforcement." DeSantis told reporters state law enforcement officers will see "major base pay increases." Veteran law enforcement officers will see a 15% pay increase. (WMBB)
A new interim final rule by the U.S. Department of Labor will significantly change how wage calculations for farm laborers are made. Under the H-2A visa program, farmers can "hire agricultural workers for up to 10 months a year to work legally in the United States" provided they can "prove a shortage in the local workforce." H-2A employers will now "pay wages based on tiers of job experience requirements and receive adjustments to offset the nonwage costs of the H-2A program, lowering employment costs for nearly all H-2A workers." (Washington Policy Center, American Farm Bureau Foundation)
