BenefitHub Releases Groundbreaking Report on Employee Sentiment Amid Economic Uncertainty

New York, May 21, 2025—BenefitHub Intelligence™ today released its comprehensive report “Understanding Employee Sentiment in a Shifting Economy,” revealing that 48% of U.S.-based employees are pessimistic about the current economic outlook, with younger employees and high-income earners expressing the most concern.  

The study, which surveyed more than 21,000 employees across diverse industries, uncovers critical shifts in workforce expectations and behaviors at a time with four out of ten employees report negative changes to their household finances over the past six months.  

Key Findings Reveal: 

• 48% of employees express pessimism about the economy, with 17% feeling very pessimistic and 31% somewhat pessimistic. Notably, employees under 34 years old and those earning over $200,000 annually report the highest levels of economic concern. 

• 40% of workers report negative changes in their household finances in the past six months, with nearly 10% experiencing significant declines. Looking ahead, 27% anticipate further financial deterioration over the next six months. 

• 94% of employees say exclusive member discounts influence their purchasing decisions when evaluating comparable products or services, with 80% reporting these discounts regularly affect their choices. 

• Despite economic uncertainties, only 35% of employees have decreased their spending compared to last year, while another 35% have maintained steady spending levels, indicating a cautious but not overly restrictive financial mindset.  

"This data is a wake-up call for employers," said Jeff Litvack, BenefitHub CEO. "The workforce is navigating a new financial reality, and organizations that adapt to support employee needs will see stronger engagement and retention." 

The report identifies key implications for employers, including the need to address financial pressures head-on with benefits that help stretch paychecks, support mental health with resources that reduce financial stress, and deliver value that drives loyalty through discount and cash-back solutions. 

The full report, including additional breakdowns, is available for download here.

About BenefitHub Intelligence 
BenefitHub Intelligence is the research and insights arm of BenefitHub, the leading cloud-based marketplace and platform for voluntary benefits and perks and is fully customizable to meet the unique needs of organizations. Trusted by five of the top ten largest employers in the U.S. and embraced by 36% of Fortune 50 companies, BenefitHub is deployed across more than 17,000 client organizations globally, serving over 14 million employees. Through BenefitHub, employees gain exclusive access to a diverse range of discounts, voluntary benefits, and perks, including millions of discounted event tickets, local deals, restaurant offerings, and special rates on essential services like cell phone plans and auto insurance. The marketplace includes over 300,000 vendor partnerships who enjoy privileged access to, and who connect with, our exclusive network of millions of engaged employees and buyers. BenefitHub is also endorsed and marketed by most of the top employee benefit brokers in the U.S. 

Media Contact: 
bhmarketing@benefithub.com