Why Wages Are Growing for Stayers Not Switchers

New data shows that workers who stay put are now seeing faster wage growth than job-hoppers — a reversal of the pattern that dominated the post-pandemic labor market. Lucas and Luna break down the numbers from the May 2026 jobs report and the Employment Cost Index, explore why employers are raising pay to retain talent rather than attract it, and discuss what this means for your next career move. With the unemployment rate flat at 4.3% and job openings surging to 7.6 million, the labor market is sending mixed signals. Lucas points to a key metric: the quits rate has fallen below pre-pandemic levels, suggesting workers are prioritizing stability over the risk of a jump. Luna flags a hidden wrinkle: wage growth for job switchers is still positive but has slowed sharply, while annual raises for stayers have crept above 5% for the first time in two years. The episode closes with a look at which industries are leading the shift and whether this trend is likely to hold. #WageGrowth #JobStayers #JobSwitchers #LaborMarket #EmploymentCostIndex #MayJobsReport #UnemploymentRate #JOLTS #QuitsRate #Retention #EconomicData #CareerStrategy #Podcast #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Economics #LaborEconomics #WorkerTrends Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo