Pay Cynicism Surges: Over 40% of Workers Say Leaving Is the Fastest Path to a Raise

HR Dive · United States · Sep 18, 2026

A new Marsh report finds that more than 4 in 10 workers now believe job-hopping is a better route to a raise than staying put — up sharply from 18% in 2024 — signaling a deepening breakdown in employer-employee trust around compensation. The report warns of cascading consequences: 92% of investors said they would reduce or eliminate investment in firms with pay issues, while a disengaged workforce is primed to exit the moment labor markets improve. Marsh's research shows workers who feel fairly paid are 85% more engaged and 60% more committed, yet only 26% of HR leaders have implemented skills-based pay despite nearly three-quarters believing it drives retention. For staffing firms, the trend points to continued churn in client workforces and potential uplift in placement volume as pay cynicism accelerates voluntary turnover.