An NYU study of white-collar workers finds one in four receiving neither raises nor promotions, according to WSJ reporting on internal career data from 2019-2023. The pattern aligns with Bureau of Labor Statistics figures showing white-collar wage growth flattening to 2.1% annually after 2022 peaks, distinct from pre-2020 cycles where advancement rates recovered within 18 months. Federal Reserve Bank of New York labor flow data further documents reduced internal mobility at firms with over 500 employees, persisting beyond stimulus effects. Mainstream coverage attributes stalls to cyclical slowdowns, yet the NYU cohort exhibits no rebound in promotion density even as unemployment held below 4%, echoing McKinsey Global Institute tracking of 2021-2024 role compression. This indicates compressed hierarchies rather than temporary hiring pauses. Cross-referenced with LinkedIn Economic Graph reports on skill-based advancement, the data reveals durable ladder shortening concentrated in knowledge sectors, carrying implications for lifetime earnings trajectories absent in prior recessions.