Nearly one in four U.S. workers with employer-sponsored health insurance say they are staying in jobs they want to quit because they are afraid of losing their medical coverage, according to a new report.
About 24% of workers with job-based insurance — roughly 23 million adults — are experiencing “job lock,” up sharply from 16% in 2021, according to the West Health-Gallup Center on Healthcare in America. The survey defines job lock as remaining in a job despite wanting to leave because of concerns about losing health insurance.
“Job lock is on the rise in America,” the report noted. “Nearly a quarter of U.S. employees report staying in a job they want to leave to keep their health insurance, a powerful constraint on worker mobility, productivity, entrepreneurship and wage growth.”
The increase comes as rising healthcare costs put more pressure on household budgets. About half of Americans said they struggle to consistently afford needed medical care or prescriptions, and 51% are worried about paying for healthcare over the next year — the highest level in five years, the report found.
Workers facing greater financial strain were much more likely to feel trapped. Among those with medical debt, 44% reported job lock, more than double the 21% rate among those without medical debt.
Nearly half of respondents who called healthcare costs a “major financial burden” reported job lock. That figure rose to 53% among those experiencing “a lot of stress” over medical expenses.
Chronic health problems also made workers more likely to stay put. About 29% of those with at least one chronic condition reported job lock, compared with 17% of those without one. The rate climbed to 41% among people with three or more diagnoses.
Women were also more likely than men to remain in unwanted jobs for health benefits, at 30% compared with 20%.
The findings were based on a national survey of 5,660 adults conducted from Oct. 27 to Dec. 22, 2025. The analysis focused on 2,322 employed adults with employer-sponsored insurance.
“The effects extend beyond morale — reducing labor market efficiency, upward mobility and quality of life,” the report noted. “With coverage tied to employment, a growing share of American workers report making career decisions based on insurance rather than opportunity.”