Only about four in ten US workers have what researchers call a quality job. The second American Job Quality Study, run by Gallup with Jobs for the Future and The Families and Workers Fund and published in October 2026, found that 41 percent of workers aged 18 to 75 met its standard, statistically unchanged from 40 percent in 2025.
Key takeaways
- 41 percent of all workers and 40 percent of employees have a quality job.
- 52 percent of managers have quality jobs, compared with 36 percent of individual contributors.
- Employees in non-quality jobs were nearly twice as likely to have changed employer a year later, 15 percent versus 8 percent.
- 25 percent of employees report discrimination or unfair treatment; 22 percent report bullying, threats or harassment.
- The study surveyed more than 17,000 workers in both 2025 and 2026.
What counts as a quality job?
The study scores jobs on five areas: financial well-being (fair pay, stable work and benefits), workplace culture and safety, growth and development opportunities, agency and voice, and work structure and autonomy, including a predictable schedule and manageable workload. A job must meet minimum standards in all five.
Who has quality jobs?
Older workers and those with more education are more likely to have one, but gaps persist. Among college graduates, 56 percent of men have quality jobs compared with 43 percent of women. Self-employed workers had a slightly higher rate, at 45 percent, than employees.
The study also looked at AI for the first time. Among employees who use AI at least weekly, 52 percent are in quality jobs, compared with 32 percent of those who never use it. The researchers note regular AI use is more common among managers and people with more education, groups who already tend to have better jobs.
Why does it matter?
Job quality links to health and retention. Employees in quality jobs were more likely to report excellent or very good health, 51 percent versus 35 percent, and were estimated to miss 20 percent fewer workdays through illness or injury. For employers, that means lower turnover. For workers, it means a job is worth judging on more than pay.
What should job seekers do now?
- Score any offer against the five areas, not just the salary.
- Ask in interviews about training budgets, promotion paths, scheduling and how decisions are made.
- Look up reviews from current staff on culture and management.
- Our guides on salary questions and common interview questions can help.
Where can I see the data?
The full report and public data are available from Jobs for the Future. For a wider look at how careers are changing, read our report on stalling promotions and internal moves.
Source: Gallup, Jobs for the Future and The Families and Workers Fund, The American Job Quality Study 2026.
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