More workers quit than ever as U.S. job openings remain near a record.

The number of Americans quitting their jobs is the highest on record, as workers take advantage of strong employer demand to pursue better opportunities.

Yet despite that leverage, an overwhelming majority of Americans say they are worried about inflation — and most say their pay isn’t keeping up with rising prices.

That contrast — evident in survey results released on Tuesday — underscores the strange, contradictory moment facing the U.S. economy after two years of pandemic-induced disruptions.

For some workers, particularly at the lower end of the pay scale, the...