One in five full-time employees in the U.S. say job security fears drive their search for a new place to work, according to a survey by Clarify Capital.

At the same time, 45% of HR pros expect to ramp up hiring in 2026, the data showed, with an emphasis on customer service and support (23%), AI and machine learning (23%) and soft skills (22%).

"The disconnect between employer and employees is growing, with nearly seven in 10 job seekers wanting more pay, while one in three HR pros say rising wage expectations are their top hiring challenge," the CEO and Co-Founder at Clarify Capital, Michael Baynes, told PropertyCasualty360.com.

"That's more than just a labor market, that's a negotiation battlefield and why so many of the non-negotiable benefits really matter," he added. "If companies cannot offer applicants a higher wage, perhaps there's other ways to reward them beyond monetary means."

Meanwhile, U.S. workers list higher salary (68%), better career advancement (41%), hybrid options (29%) and job security (27%) as main reasons for wanting to leave a job.

"HR leaders in a lot of ways are fighting an uphill battle," Baynes said.

"They need more talent, but they're losing some of the best candidates over non-negotiables like retirement benefits, remote or hybrid options and flexible hours," he continued. "Today's employees also have rising pay expectations given the economic climate. These aren't just perks, they're dealbreakers."

Other key takeaways…

  • Twenty-nine percent of employees admit to having applied for new jobs in January just to see if they could get a better offer than their current one.
  • Among those planning to job hunt in 2026, 64% feel confident they will find a better job than their current one.
  • The top "non-negotiable" benefits for job seekers are retirement benefits (42%), remote/hybrid work options (39%), flexible hours (37%), training/career development opportunities (33%), and better health insurance (31%).
  • The top hiring challenges HR professionals face are applicants expecting higher pay or better benefits (31%), followed by an excessive number of unqualified applicants (26%) or applicants lacking the necessary skills.
  • Thirty-four percent of HR pros report they've lost a top candidate because they did not offer remote work options.
  • HR teams feel generally optimistic: 67% say they are confident they can find qualified candidates for open roles in 2026.

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