ADP released survey data showing less than one-third of global workers feel their jobs are safe. The other two-thirds apparently looked around at their companies, calculated the odds, and arrived at a conclusion that required zero statistical analysis.
Unemployment sits at historically low levels. Jobs everywhere. Hiring signs in every window. Workers still convinced they're getting f*cked. Turns out watching your company post record profits while your salary fails to beat inflation does something to confidence. Who knew.
The survey spans global workers. Means someone in Singapore is staring at their laptop right now thinking the exact same thing as someone in Ohio. Both employed. Both terrified. Both correct. Globalization finally delivered on its promise of shared human experience and the experience is dread.
ADP processes payroll for millions of companies. They see the numbers. They know what everyone makes. They watched executives give themselves 40% raises while telling middle management that 2% is generous this year. Then they surveyed workers about job security like it's some kind of mystery why morale is low.
Historically low unemployment means nothing when your employer can replace you with someone cheaper in forty-eight hours. The job market is tight until the second you need leverage. Then it's a buyer's market. Funny how that works.
Workers feel insecure despite being employed. Economists will call this a paradox. Workers will call it Tuesday. The gap between those two perspectives is why one group has tenure and the other has at-will employment contracts they signed without reading.
ADP could have saved money on the survey. Just asked one question: "Do you think your boss values you as a human or as a line item?" Results would have been identical and they could have wrapped it up before lunch.
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