The study defines a mid-career stall as spending at least five years without a promotion or meaningful raise at a white-collar job, about 10 to 15 years after entering the workforce
Around 24.2% of white-collar workers in the US are facing a hidden professional crisis: a “mid-career stall,” according to new research from the Burning Glass Institute and NYU’s School of Professional Studies.
This slowdown affects professionals across fields, from tech to public services.
Tracking 1.3 million mid-career professionals over 25 years, the study defines a mid-career stall as spending at least five years without a promotion or meaningful raise, typically occurring 10 to 15 years after entering the workforce.
Financially, the toll is steep for certain workers. For instance, an average stalled software developer loses $43,000 in wages over 15 years.
- Information technology boasts the lowest stall rate at 20.7%.
- Public administration climbs to the highest at 30.2%.
- Other sectors between 21% and 25% include healthcare, education, management, transportation, and professional services.
- Industries like finance, wholesale trade, manufacturing, utilities, and real estate have stall rates between 25% and 30%.
Researchers attribute the trend to flatter corporate structures and fewer opportunities to relocate or switch companies.
What to do
The report’s lead author, Carlo Salerno, suggests people should upskill and act immediately if they find themselves stagnating mid-career.