Over half of U.S. workers lack a quality job, with many saying they don’t make enough money to get by, according to a new study by Gallup.

Just 40% of U.S. workers hold positions that meet their basic financial needs, the data showed, where they feel safe and respected, can grow their skills, have a voice in decisions that affect them and exercise some control over their time and work.

“Quality jobs are linked to better outcomes at work and in life,” Gallup said in the report. “Employees in quality jobs report substantially better outcomes across nearly every aspect of their well-being, including life satisfaction, happiness and health.”

Meanwhile, nearly 3 in 10 U.S. employees say they are struggling financially, with 29% saying they are “just getting by” or “finding it difficult to get by.” Another 43% say they are “doing okay,” and just 27% describe their financial situation as “living comfortably.”

According to the study, a quarter of employees don’t see opportunities for advancement in their current role, as one in four employees report their organization does not offer promotion or advancement opportunities. At the same time, access to mentorship and training is also uneven, with just over half of employees reporting on-the-job training in the past year — most often at larger firms and among employees with more formal education.

Related: Employees want more than traditional benefits to combat financial stress

Other key takeaways…

  • Many employees feel left out of important workplace decisions. More than half (55%) report limited input on decisions involving technology, and about half (48%) say they lack the voice they should have in shaping their working conditions. These voice gaps are widespread across employee roles and backgrounds.
  • Nearly a quarter (24%) of employees report being treated unfairly at their job because of their identity. Overall, 24% of employees report discrimination or unfair treatment at work based on their identity. Rates are highest among nonbinary (52%), neurodivergent (47%), Middle Eastern/North African (41%) and LGBTQ+ (36%) employees.
  • More than half (62%) of employees have unstable, unpredictable work schedules. Most employees (71%) report having the freedom to decide how they perform their tasks. Yet 62% lack schedules that provide predictability or stability, and 54% often or sometimes work longer than planned.

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