Americans Increasingly Concerned About Losing Jobs Amid Housing Crisis

October 11, 2023

Americans are increasingly concerned about losing their jobs as elevated mortgage rates and inflationary goods keep them worried about paying for basic necessities like food and housing.

As the Fannie Mae (FNMA/OTCQB) Home Purchase Sentiment Index shows, customers are increasingly pessimistic about the housing market and a key factor could be Americans’ reduced job security.

Carl Van Horn, the director of the Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University, told Newsweek: “The increase in job quitting is driven by historically low levels of unemployment. The surge in job openings creates opportunities for employed and unemployed Americans to leave their current jobs and find better jobs that pay more or give them more flexibility for when and where they work.”

The number of workers quitting their jobs jumped from 3.62 million to 3.64 million since July, with layoffs staying steady at 1.68 million.

Americans are dealing with increased rates of financial stress as they continue to navigate inflation’s impact across all retail sectors.

Newsweek, October 11, 2023

Recent Posts

NJSPL: Snapshot of NJ Undergrad Degree Earners

Snapshot of Undergraduate Degree Earners in New Jersey New Jersey State Policy Lab, Angie Nga Le The National Student Clearing House Research Center has released a new Undergraduate Degree Earners report covering the 2023-2024 academic year[1]. According to the...

First-Generation Rutgers Alumni National Leaders in Senior Care

Sam Starnes GSN'04 for Rutgers Today, May 12, 2025 Phil Scalo and Roberto Muñiz influence with compassion the care of millions in nursing homes, assisted-living facilities, and affordable housing for seniors, as well as others in need of aging services. Phil Scalo...

NJSPL Report: Emotional Well-Being of NJ Nurses

Report Release: Emotional Well-Being of New Jersey Nurses Post-COVID-19 New Jersey State Policy Lab COVID-19 brought to light the disparities among the nursing workforce that have been simmering in our health care system and highlighted the need for nurses to access...

“Work Trends RU” Podcast with Gov. Murphy

Heldrich Center for Workforce Development has launched its new podcast series, "Work Trends RU," exploring the changing worlds of work, education, social policy, and financial security. The series covers a variety of issues, including the contemporary workforce,...

New Jersey Micromobility Guide – Bike Ped Resource Center

From NJ Bicycle and Pedestrian Resource Center New Jersey Micromobility Guide (2025) The New Jersey Micromobility Guide serves as a resource for micromobility users across the state, collecting and summarizing the laws and safety best practices that can make riders...