8 in 10 unemployed Americans losing motivation to keep job hunting

This story version has been formatted as an on-air script for broadcast outlets. See the original research story here.

NEW RESEARCH PROVES JUST HOW BIG OF TOLL FINDING A JOB IS TAKING ON AMERICANS.

A NEW SURVEY OF 5,000 UNEMPLOYED U-S ADULTS FROM PELGO FINDS ONLY ABOUT ONE IN FOUR (23%) SAY THEY’RE CONSISTENTLY MOTIVATED IN THEIR JOB SEARCH.

MEANWHILE, THREE IN TEN (31%) HAVE STOPPED LOOKING ALTOGETHER, AND ABOUT A THIRD (35%) SAY THEIR MOTIVATION COMES AND GOES.

MORE THAN A QUARTER SAY THEY SOMETIMES FEEL HOPELESS (26%), WHILE ANOTHER SAY THEY QUARTER (24%) FEEL STRESSED BY CONSTANT REJECTION.

THE SURVEY, CONDUCTED BY TALKER RESEARCH, ALSO FOUND THE AVERAGE JOB SEARCH NOW LASTS ABOUT SIX MONTHS.

STILL, ABOUT FOUR IN TEN (44%) SAY THEY’RE CONFIDENT IN THEIR SKILLS, AND MANY ARE TURNING TO A-I FOR HELP.

SO WHAT ABOUT YOU? HOW LONG WOULD YOU KEEP GOING BEFORE BURNING OUT? WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

Research methodology:

Talker Research surveyed 5,000 unemployed Americans who have access to the internet; the survey was commissioned by Pelgo and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between March 10 and March 17, 2026. A link to the questionnaire can be found here.

To view the complete methodology as part of AAPOR’s Transparency Initiative, please visit the Talker Research Process and Methodology page.