Branch released its seventh annual Branch Report, revealing the stark financial reality facing America’s hourly workforce in 2025. Based on responses from more than 2,300 hourly workers, the data shows persistent financial strain, growing reliance on early pay, and early but cautious views on workplace AI.
Despite a cooling labor market, hourly workers continue to face difficult trade-offs:
"Behind the headlines about staffing challenges and labor shortages are millions of workers doing their best to stay financially stable," said Atif Siddiqi, founder and CEO of Branch. "This data highlights how important it is to offer tools that make everyday financial decisions easier, including faster, more flexible access to earnings."
Workplace AI adoption among hourly roles remains low:
Branch is the leading workforce payments platform that helps businesses deliver fast, flexible options for workers to get paid. Whether it's sending earnings to employees or contractors, companies choose Branch because they know that faster payments can help them strengthen worker loyalty, save time and money, and drive business growth. Earners that sign up with Branch can receive a deposit account, quick access to earned wages, rewards, and personal finance tools to help them manage their cash flow between pay cycles.
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