Rising Fuel Costs Reshape Work for 64% of Workers
Rising fuel prices are becoming a labor-market constraint, particularly for hourly and shift workers whose commuting expenses can consume a meaningful share of daily pay. A joint report from PYMNTS and flexible-work platform WorkWhile examines how transportation costs influence whether people accept shifts, travel to work or alter their schedules. The findings matter for employers already contending with staffing gaps and for financial providers seeking to help households manage volatile essential expenses.
The report found that 64% of workers have changed how they work because of higher fuel costs, with some declining shifts when the commute no longer makes economic sense. Fintech companies and banks are responding with fuel rewards, tools that estimate take-home pay after commuting expenses, and cash-flow alerts designed to flag potential shortfalls. Such products can help workers compare the true value of a shift before accepting it and cushion the near-term budget impact of rising transportation costs.
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The history behind this eventHigher Gas Prices Force 17% of Labor Economy Workers to Miss Shifts
The Labor Economy includes hourly, gig, seasonal and shift-based workers earning no more than $25 an hour and typically less than $50,000 a year. Because commuting costs must be paid before a worker earns the first dollar, higher fuel prices can make some shifts uneconomical. The burden is particularly acute for lower-paid workers, whose thinner savings cushions turn transportation disruptions into risks to income, job access and perceived reliability.
Research released by PYMNTS Intelligence and WorkWhile on July 27, 2026, found that 17% of affected Labor Economy workers missed a shift or workday. Another 16% arrived late and lost hours or pay, while 16% declined work they could not reach. Transportation consumed 3.6% of monthly pretax income, and 19% borrowed or used credit to cover it; 9% faced discipline or possible dismissal, while 7% quit or lost work.
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