60% of American Workers Lack Quality Jobs. What Can Nonprofits Learn?

Having a job doesn't necessarily mean having a good job.

According to the 2026 American Job Quality Study by Jobs for the Future (JFF), 60% of U.S. workers lack quality jobs, despite being employed.

The study, based on responses from more than 18,000 workers, looks beyond salaries to examine workplace culture, job security, professional growth, employee voice, and flexibility.

What the research found

• 60% of workers do not have quality jobs.

• 15% of workers in non-quality jobs changed employers, compared with 8% of those in quality jobs.

• 23% of Gen Z workers changed employers in the past year.

• 52% of frequent AI users hold quality jobs, compared with 32% of nonusers. This is a correlation, not evidence that AI improves job quality.

• Workers with criminal records face additional barriers to quality employment.

Why this matters for nonprofits

Nonprofit professionals are often drawn to their work by a sense of purpose. But meaningful work should not come at the expense of fair compensation, career growth, or well-being.

For nonprofit employers, the findings reinforce an important point: attracting talented people is only half the challenge. Retaining them requires supportive workplaces, opportunities to grow, manageable workloads, and meaningful employee input.

For job seekers, the research is a reminder to look beyond job titles and mission statements. Salary matters, but so do workplace culture, leadership, flexibility, and opportunities for advancement.

The bigger picture

The nonprofit sector works to improve people's lives. That commitment should extend to its own workforce.

Creating more jobs matters. Creating better jobs matters even more.

At NonprofitJobs.io, we believe a meaningful career should offer both purpose and the conditions people need to thrive.

Source: Jobs for the Future, 2026 American Job Quality Study. Findings reflect the broader U.S. workforce, not nonprofits specifically.