Glassdoor Names Fatigue 2025 Word of the Year

Glassdoor named fatigue as its 2025 word of the year after the term saw a 41 percent increase in mentions across its platform. The company attributes this trend to an emotional weight on the American workforce caused by rapid technological shifts, political tensions, and economic strain.

Data from the platform shows a 2,244 percent surge in mentions of agentic AI and an 875 percent increase in references to the inauguration. Economic anxiety is also prevalent, with mentions of stagflation rising more than threefold over 2024. A spring poll by the company found that 78 percent of professionals felt news events drained their energy at work.

These trends align with broader economic indicators. The Conference Board reported that the Consumer Confidence Index fell to 88.7 in late November, the lowest level since April. Simultaneously, Labor Department data showed 7.67 million job vacancies in October, though surveys indicated a rise in layoffs and a decrease in employees quitting. Despite the prevailing exhaustion, Glassdoor noted a shift in user emoji usage toward more positive responses late in the year, suggesting a gradual adaptation to these pressures.