HR.com and LearnLux State of Employee Financial Wellness 2025 Report

Financial Stress Is Rising, and Employers Are Taking Notice

A new HR.com Research Institute study in partnership with LearnLux reveals that debt has overtaken inflation as the top source of financial stress for employees in 2025. Nearly 7 in 10 employees (68%) struggle with managing debt. This surpasses inflation, family expenses, and affordability concerns.

The average American now owes $104,215 across mortgages, credit cards, student loans, and other personal debt. This financial strain doesn’t stay at home. It shows up at work in the form of reduced focus, higher turnover, and lower engagement.

HR.com and LearnLux's “State of Employee Financial Wellness 2025” survey ran from December 2024 to February 2025. We gathered responses from 258 HR professionals in virtually every industry vertical. Respondents are from allover the world, with the majority from North America, especially the United States. The participants represent a broad cross-section of employers by number of employees, ranging from small businesses with fewer than 50 employees to enterprises with 20,000+ employees. Sixty five percent are midsize and large organizations with 100+employees.

Key Findings from the HR.com + LearnLux Report

• Only 14% of HR professionals say their organization truly understands employee financial wellbeing based on solid data, down from 19% last year.
  
• Just 28% of organizations currently have a financial wellness program beyond retirement, while another 11% are in planning stages.
  
• Employers that lead in financial wellness are 25x more likely to understand their employees’ financial needs and 10x more likely to already have programs in place.

Why Financial Wellness Matters for HR and Business Leaders

When employees are financially stressed, it affects every metric that matters. Organizations implementing financial wellness initiatives report:

• 64% do so to improve employee mental and physical health
  53% to boost retention and reduce turnover
• 47% to increase engagement and morale

Employers that support financial wellness create healthier, more productive teams and stronger ROI.

The Future of Financial Wellness: Access and Integration

Eight in ten organizations are exploring how AI can support employees’ financial wellbeing, particularly in budgeting (56%) and debt management (53%). Forward-thinking employers are pairing financial coaching with benefits like retirement planning, mental health support, and flexible spending accounts, creating a holistic approach to wellbeing that drives measurable business results.

LearnLux: Empowering Employees to Thrive Financially

As an official partner of HR.com’s 2025 State of Employee Financial Wellness Report, LearnLux is leading the way in modern financial wellbeing. Our fiduciary, human and digital platform blends interactive planning tools with one-on-one guidance from Certified Financial Planner^® professionals, empowering employees to:

• Budget smarter and manage debt
• Make informed benefits and investment choices
• Navigate major life events confidently
• Save for retirement and reduce financial stress

LearnLux drives measurable outcomes for employers, including higher productivity, improved retention, lower stress, and better financial confidence across the workforce.

Download the Full Report

Discover how HR.com and LearnLux are redefining employee financial wellness for the modern workplace.

Explore trends, benchmarks, and insights to strengthen your financial wellbeing strategy, and help your workforce thrive in 2025 and beyond.