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By Suzanne Blake
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Rising gas prices are forcing workers to rethink not just how they commute, but which jobs they are willing to take at all, according to a newly released survey.
New data from Indeed Flex suggests that higher fuel costs are reshaping workers’ priorities, pushing many toward flexible work arrangements and shrinking the pool of jobs they consider viable.
According to the survey, 78 percent of workers say rising gas prices have pushed them to seek more flexible work and become more selective about which roles they accept.
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“That's not workers being picky, but simply basic math,” Michael Ryan, a finance expert and the founder of MichaelRyanMoney.com, told Newsweek. “A $17/hour job 25 miles away costs more in real terms than a $15/hour job 5 miles away after you factor in gas, time, and wear. Workers have figured it out. Most employers haven't.”
Why It Matters
This is a shift that could make it even harder for employers to fill open positions.
As higher fuel costs push workers to prioritize flexibility and shorter commutes, open roles may sit unfilled longer unless company wages or locations adjust to new economic realities.
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What To Know
For many workers, flexible jobs, such as shift-based, temporary, or gig-style work, are no longer optional.
The survey found that 50 percent of workers would struggle to cover basic expenses without flexible work, and 71 percent rely on flexible work as a primary or consistent secondary source of income.
Additionally, roughly 54 percent use flexible work specifically to pay for gas.
“Surging gas prices are changing not just how much people work, but where and why they work. We’re seeing workers prioritize jobs that are closer, more predictable, and pay enough to justify the cost of getting there,” Indeed Flex CEO Novo Constare told Newsweek.
“Over time, this will push the labor market to become more localized and more selective, with employers needing to offer stronger pay and clearer value to attract workers.”
As fuel prices climb, earnings that might once have gone toward savings or discretionary spending are being redirected toward commuting costs, groceries, and housing. And flexible work offers a way to offset those pressures, whether by allowing workers to stack shifts or work closer to home to compensate for rising expenses.
Gas prices are also physically shrinking the labor market.
According to the survey, 66 percent of workers say they have reduced how far they are willing to travel for work. Longer commutes, once tolerable, are now seen as financially risky or unmanageable when fuel costs are volatile and trending upward.
“As employers continue pushing return to office policies, employees are being forced to spend more time and money commuting,” Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of the 9innings podcast, told Newsweek. “Rising gas prices only amplify that burden. For many workers, especially those with longer commutes, this creates a real financial strain and may push them to seek remote or hybrid opportunities where those costs can be avoided.”
That pullback has ripple effects across industries that depend on in-person labor, especially retail, food service, warehousing, manufacturing, and healthcare support roles. This is because these are jobs where remote work isn’t an option and workers often absorb the commuting costs themselves.
As job seekers tighten their geographic radius and raise their expectations, companies that can’t offer competitive pay, flexible scheduling, or convenient locations may find themselves losing out on candidates altogether.
“The long-term implications of high fuel costs could not only be disastrous for the personal finances of these employees, but may also trigger some job migration to position openings that don’t require as much travel, even if the wages could be lower,” Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek*.*
What Happens Next
If fuel prices remain elevated or continue to rise, employers may have to raise wages to offset commuting costs or offer more flexible scheduling.
“If gas prices remain elevated, employers will be forced to adjust,” Thompson said. “That likely means higher wages to offset increased commuting costs or a broader shift back toward remote and flexible work arrangements.”
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