Jobs are more livelihood than identity
Core finding
In a Verasight survey of 1,000 U.S. adults conducted March 6 to 16, 2026, 40% of Americans said their job is just what they do for a living.
Three-in-ten said their job gives them a sense of identity (30%), while 27% said they are not currently working and 4% said they do not know.
Topline distribution
40% of Americans say their job is just what they do for a living.
Which of these best describes the way you usually feel about your job?
n = 1,000 · Mar 6–16, 2026 · MoE ±3.5%
Methodology
Full methodology →| Mode | Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting |
|---|---|
| Population | US adults age 18+ |
| Field dates | Mar 6–16, 2026 |
| Base (unweighted) | 1,000 |
| Margin of error | ±3.5% |
| Module | Module 2: Economics, Work, & Policy |
| Sponsor | Verasight |
| Weight variable | weight |
| Weighting targets | age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status |
Sources
- reports.verasight.io/r/omnibus-2026-044
Which of these best describes the way you usually feel about your job?
Cite this question
Verasight Client Omnibus Survey #2026-044, fielded March 6-16, 2026, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.5%.