What is career rust-out? Learn the signs to watch for and how to move forward

If you've been feeling bored, unmotivated or like you're simply going through the motions at work, you're not alone.

More workers are reporting what's become known as "career rust-out," feeling disengaged at work because they no longer feel challenged or inspired.

The trend comes as many employees are staying in jobs they no longer find fulfilling amid an uncertain job market.

Unlike burnout, which is typically associated with chronic stress and heavy workloads, career rust-out is linked to a lack of purpose, challenge or stimulation at work.

Gabriela Flax says she knows that feeling firsthand.

Flax told "Good Morning America" that after years in the tech industry, repetitive work gradually left her feeling disconnected from her job.

"There was a mental detachment from my job where, even as a high performer, I kept showing up, but it was not with that same vitality that I'd experienced in other ways of working," Flax said. "I lost excitement for the work itself."

Flax said she eventually left her job to start her own business.

Employee engagement has been on the decline in recent years. According to Gallup's 2025 employee engagement survey, 31% of U.S. workers polled said they were actively engaged at work, down from 36% in 2020. Younger employees experienced the largest declines in engagement.

Catherine Fisher, a LinkedIn career expert, told "GMA" many workers are choosing to remain in their current roles, even if they no longer feel motivated, just to pay the bills.

"People are staying in their jobs longer, and they're feeling like, 'OK, I'm just gonna kind of dial it in and do as much as I can to keep that paycheck coming,'" Fisher said.

While it's normal for a person's enthusiasm to wax and wane throughout their career, Fisher said prolonged disengagement is a sign it's time to reassess.

"If it's been a long time that you're just not feeling that motivation, ask yourself, 'What would make you feel more motivated? What could you learn?'" Fisher said. "Is there a stretch assignment that you could do to help you kind of get excited about the work again?"

Her advice is to start by talking with your manager about opportunities to take on a new challenge.

Rather than asking your manager to fix the problem, she recommends coming to the conversation with ideas for projects or assignments that could help you grow.

If those changes don't reignite your interest, Fisher said it may be time to lean on your professional network and begin exploring new opportunities.