This is a tiny glimpse of the data available in The Pulse of the U.S. Workforce Report by idealis, powered by CivicScience data. Access the report.
Uncertainty has become a defining force in today’s business landscape, leaving even the most experienced leaders and investors struggling to navigate what comes next. Declining consumer spending signals a potential recession, triggering a ripple effect on businesses, the job market, and the public sector. While most workers feel their manager cares about them, trust in leadership is fading as employment concerns grow. These topics and more are covered in the latest edition of idealis’ Pulse of the U.S. Workforce report, powered by CivicScience data. Here are three key insights from the report.
1. Employment concerns increased by seven percentage points last month.
Levels of concern about employment across the U.S. workforce continue to fluctuate, often reflecting broader economic events and shifts in the job market. The February Jobs Report highlighted this dynamic, with the addition of 151,000 new jobs and a rise in the unemployment rate to 4.1%. This combination of job growth and a modest increase in unemployment suggests a complex labor market, where new opportunities emerge even as more individuals find themselves unemployed, contributing to heightened uncertainty about long-term job stability.
Answer our Poll: How concerned are you about the future of your career field?
2. Seventy percent say their managers care about them as a person, but differences exist among demographics.
Perceptions of managers’ caring about their workers increased by 6% in February, with 70% believing that their manager cares about them as a person. There are demographic differences, however, with Hispanic/Latino and Black workers feeling less cared for than their white colleagues at work. CivicScience data indicates this has been an ongoing trend for the last six months, with the gap widening further over time.
As diversity efforts are reduced, it is prudent for companies to invest in leadership development to ensure leaders can unlock the fullest potential of their total workforce.
Weigh In: Do you believe the leadership at your current job does or does not care about employee welfare?
3. In February, only 19% of U.S. workers believe that business leaders positively impact society.
Forty-four percent of U.S. workers believe business leaders have a mostly negative influence on society, while 37% remain uncertain, and only 19% view their impact as positive. This reflects a growing skepticism toward corporate leadership, particularly as businesses navigate challenges like layoffs, price increases, and social responsibility debates.
Opinions vary notably by education level: U.S. workers with some college-level education have a more negative view of business leaders than those without a formal college degree.
The data underscores a growing tension between economic uncertainty, workforce sentiment, and trust in leadership. As employment concerns rise and skepticism toward business leaders deepens, companies that prioritize transparent leadership and meaningful employee engagement will be better positioned to navigate an increasingly volatile landscape.
