US Job Hopping Cools as Openings Stall, Pay Gains Disappoint

‘It’s called “job hugging” in a tough market where even top professionals cling tightly to their main paycheck,’ one analyst said.

A hiring ad displayed at a store in Columbia, Md., on July 21, 2025. Madalina Kilroy/The Epoch Times

Some Americans seeking a job change are now finding themselves faced with the reality of a smaller job pool and lower salary jumps, according to a recent report from the Bank of America (BOA) Institute.

Although the job change rate has risen since the beginning of 2025, the estimated rate at the end of July was just 2 percent above the 2019 average and has been trending downward since the 2022 peak of more than 26 percent, according to the report.