NEW YORK — A study by the Burning Glass Institute and New York University’s School of Professional Studies found that 24.2% of mid-career professionals have been stalled in their careers—defined as going at least five years without a promotion or meaningful raise. The research tracked 1.3 million mid-career professionals across multiple industries over a 25-year period.

Researchers defined mid-career as the phase occurring roughly 10 to 15 years after a worker begins their professional path. Stall rates varied by industry, with the lowest rate at 20.7% in information technology and the highest at 30.2% in public administration. Other sectors showed stall rates of 21.8% in health care and social assistance, 23.1% in transportation and warehousing, 23.2% in professional, scientific and technical services, 23.4% in educational services, 24.8% in management of companies and enterprises, 26.6% in finance and insurance, 26.9% in wholesale trade, 27% in manufacturing, 28% in utilities, and 28.9% in real estate.

"People start to feel trapped. Stalled workers are doing everything society asked them to do. They got a degree, tried to build a career and stay employed, yet somehow they stop moving forward," said Carlo Salerno, education economist at Burning Glass Institute and the report's lead author. "This is why it's a hidden crisis, because none of these things show up in unemployment statistics," he said.

The study estimated that the average stalled software developer forfeits $43,000 in wages over 15 years. Administrative workers face smaller financial impacts due to limited advancement potential and lack of large bonuses in their roles.