Take 5: worker wage, AI and healthcare

NH Business Review's biweekly snapshot of business and industry statistics

ACCORDING to the 2026 Monster Cost of Living Report, over 9 in 10 U.S. workers say their wages are not keeping up with the cost of living for the third consecutive year. Other highlights from the report include: 85% have dipped into their savings, up 82% from 2024; 74% are looking for a higher-paying role, and 58% say it’s harder to find a job as companies cut costs.

THE Workplace Situationships Report from Zety found that the relationship between employers and employees has been defined by a lack of progress, uncertain commitment and growing disconnection. Fifty-nine percent of workers surveyed do not see a long-term path with their employer, with 60% citing financial stability as the reason why they continue to stick around.

A new Pew Research Center survey found that Americans are more likely to say that China, not the United States, is more advanced when it comes to developing artificial intelligence. However, 43% of Americans say it is extremely or very important that the U.S. is the world’s leader in developing AI. As concerns persist about the global AI race, 51% of Americans say that AI will increase the gap between rich and poor countries overall.

NEW Hampshire was ranked as the No. 1 best state for healthcare, as determined by WalletHub. The Granite State was found to have the second-lowest out-of-pocket medical spending in the country, with residents having the lowest average monthly health insurance premium, at around $469. When considering the state’s medical workforce, New Hampshire has the 10th-most nurses and fifth-most physician assistants per capita.

THE Pew Research Center shared the latest insights into energy production, including that most electricity still comes from burning fossil fuels. Worldwide, 57% of all electricity generated in 2025 came from burning coal, gas or other fossil fuels, down from 65% in 2000. In 2025, 9% of the world’s electricity came from solar power, up from 3% in 2020 and just 0.01% in 2000. China leads the world in solar and wind energy production.