New Study Finds 79% of Working Americans Want On-Demand Pay

New study finds 56% of Americans believe earned wage access is more important now than pre-pandemic

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – September 7, 2022 – For National Payroll Week 2022, Instant Financial, the pioneer of fee-free on-demand pay solutions, is highlighting findings from its recent Wages and Wellbeing study, in partnership with the Center for Generational Kinetics, to help organizations understand how to respond to the new job and payment requirements of the post-pandemic workforce. ​​58% of Americans, across all income levels, are living paycheck to paycheck as they adjust to a post-pandemic economy, meaning more than half of the American workforce is feeling the impact of record-breaking inflation, supply chain issues and a possible recession.

Responsible Earned Wage Access

Despite concerns about the economy, Americans are continuing to quit their jobs at a record pace. In fact, 1 in 5 workers plan to quit their jobs this year, giving job seekers greater power than ever before. Findings from the Wages and Wellbeing study show that in 2022, 79% of working Americans would be more interested in applying for a job that pays them the same day they work – 30% higher than in 2018. Additionally, more than half (56%) of working Americans would stay a month to over a year longer at a job if they could get immediate access to their earned pay after each day’s work at no cost, reducing the volume of payroll labor caused by turnover, and ultimately saving organizations thousands of dollars annually.

“With responsible on-demand pay, employers have the opportunity to give all employees more control over their financial wellness, and simultaneously reduce the pressure on payroll professionals caused by increased turnover and new hires,” said Tal Clark, CEO of Instant Financial. “As organizations are taking a step back and reassessing their benefits offerings to successfully compete for employees in today’s workforce, the need for immediate access to wages has become very apparent in today’s economy.”

Other notable findings from the report include:

  • 58% of respondents believe companies should be required to offer “responsible” earned wage access to its employees, meaning there should be no-fee access to a portion of an employee’s earned pay.
  • 60% of working Americans think all employers should offer their employees immediate access to their earned wages every day.
  • 60% of working Americans believe job seekers today want to know if a company is providing the option of receiving part of their pay every day.
  • 40% of working Americans said they left a job in the last two years that they would have stayed longer if they were offered immediate access to a portion of their pay after every day’s work at no cost.

Access to wages on-demand is becoming more in-demand than ever before. Download our Wages & Wellbeing study to learn more about the changing requirements of today’s evolving workforce.

About the Study The survey of 1,000 employed full-time or part-time US labor force participants, aged 16-55, was conducted by the Center for Generational Kinetics from April 9, 2022, to April 20, 2022. The margin of error is +/-3.1 percentage points.

To download a copy of the Wages and Wellbeing study from Instant Financial, visit https://www.instant.co/casestudy/wages-wellness-study/.

About Instant Financial

Instant Financial is leading the charge to provide financial freedom and wellness to millions of workers in the United States through its earned wage access solutions. By enabling employers to allow employees to access their daily wages immediately after their shift, Instant Financial helps organizations improve retention and reduce absenteeism while helping employees take control of their financial freedom by bridging the gap between work day and payday. Learn more about Instant Financial at www.instant.co.

About Center of Generational Kinetics

The Center for Generational Kinetics, LLC (CGK) is the leading research, advisory, and speaking firm focused on uncovering key emerging trends, generational change, and behavioral insights. CGK’s team leads original research around the world to solve important consumer and workforce challenges. The firm uncovers new and unexpected, statistically accurate insights for innovative, market-leading clients. CGK’s team has worked with over 700 companies around the world, from the biggest global consumer brands to governments, technology pioneers, financial services, retailers, and global banks.