Stuck in Jobs: The New Swing Voters

In 20 years of recruiting executives, William Rowe says he's never had such a hard time persuading the inhabitants of corporate suites to swap corner offices. "There's more hesitancy," says Rowe, vice-chairman of the search firm Pearson Partners International. "You know how to play the game of chess in the platform you're on. You can't be sure of that in a new place, no matter how good you are."

From the factory floor to the boardroom, few Americans these days are willing to tell the boss to shove it. Many of those who have weathered the recession with their jobs intact are now sheltering in place, either fearful of risking a change or simply lacking the opportunity. Since January 2009, an average 1 million fewer Americans per month have quit their jobs than in previous years. Through April, the most recent data available, that adds up to 28 million Americans stuck in jobs they would have left in ordinary times.