The numbers are hard to ignore. A record 55% of Americans say their financial situation is getting worse, up from 53% last year and 47% in 2024, marking the fifth consecutive year more Americans say their finances are worsening rather than improving, a trend last seen during the Great Recession. Some 67% of Americans say they live paycheck to paycheck, a lifestyle that spans income brackets, education levels, and professions. And nearly half say they are losing sleep over money worries, according to YNAB’s 2026 Money Mood Report.
For employers, that financial pressure does not stay at the door. PwC’s 2026 Employee Financial Wellness Survey reveals a workforce under sustained pressure, where day-to-day financial strain is undermining productivity, engagement, and long-term workforce stability.
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