But, is the big picture as bleak as these numbers suggest?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We bring you the latest employee engagement statistics, including the data on: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Emerging employee engagement trends,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The cost of of employee disengagement, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Factors that positively and negatively affect employee engagement.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s dive in.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"Employee](\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Employee-Engagement-Statistics-cover.webp\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n- \n
- In the United States, 31% of the workforce is engaged, while just 21% of employees globally would say the same. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The global economy loses out on over $8 trillion annually due to employee disengagement. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Engaged employees are an enviable asset, helping to lower absenteeism, safety incidents, and turnover rates. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Managers can help shift the tide, as they influence engagement levels by as much as 70%. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The Tech sector boasts the most engaged employees (81%), while retail workers are the most disengaged group globally (71%).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The youngest members of the workforce (16\u201318 year olds) are also the most disengaged (64%).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- When it comes to engagement, hybrid workers (77%) outperform both remote workers (76%) and on-site employees (72%). <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
What is employee engagement?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Employee engagement is a concept that describes the enthusiasm and commitment workers feel about their organization.<\/strong> The term also refers to employees\u2019 emotions toward their company<\/strong>, which help them align their contributions with organizational goals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In general, employees who are engaged in their roles find it easier to embrace company culture<\/a> and deliver positive results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Long-term employee engagement research from Gallup<\/a> reveals multiple benefits of engagement at work, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Improved employee well-being (by 70%),<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Increased organizational profitability (by 23%),<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- More involved employee participation in organizational initiatives (by 22%), <\/strong>and<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Higher productivity (by 14%).<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Of course, things aren\u2019t always so clear-cut, and we recognize 3 levels of engagement:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Engaged<\/strong> \u2014 Employees who are committed to their jobs and feel a strong connection to their workplace.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Not engaged<\/strong> \u2014 Employees who aren\u2019t enthusiastic about their jobs but do what is required, although they may step back from more demanding work. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Actively disengaged<\/strong> \u2014 Unhappy employees with a resentful attitude who spread their negativity to others.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
So, what happens when employees are not engaged or, worse yet, actively disengaged? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here\u2019s what the latest employee engagement statistics say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Employee engagement is sinking lower<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
According to recent data from Gallup<\/a>, after years of gradual dips and stagnation, employee engagement in the United States has reached its lowest point since 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 2024, US employee engagement<\/a> trends showed that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- 31% of workers were actively engaged<\/strong>, while<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 17% of workers were actively disengaged<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
These numbers stayed the same throughout 2025. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, HR.com\u2019s productivity and engagement research<\/a> leaves room for hope. The reporting found that most employees are moderately engaged<\/strong>, scoring 7 on a 10-point scale. That being said, for the average employee, the risk of falling below 6 and dipping into disengagement is high. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The cost of employee disengagement is steep <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How much does employee disengagement cost the global economy?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 2025, Gallup\u2019s State of the Global Workforce<\/a> report estimated that disengagement drains $438 billion from the global economy<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other reporting offers even higher figures. The People Element Employee Engagement Report<\/a> from 2025 notes that the world economy loses $8.9 trillion due to low engagement<\/strong> \u2014 equivalent to nearly 10% of the global GDP. A similar number appears in Effectory\u2019s Global Employee Engagement Index<\/a>, highlighting that annual losses amount to $8.8 trillion<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
What do these losses signal to businesses and job seekers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Forbes\u2019s overview of job prospects<\/a> for 2026, a few hard truths took center stage: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- First, the labor market seems to be in a slump, despite a flourishing economy in the United States. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Second, companies will likely be highly selective in their hiring decisions throughout 2026. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Given these circumstances, job hugging<\/a> \u2014 staying with your current employer due to economic uncertainty \u2014 may become an even more prevalent phenomenon in the next few years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This data sounds disheartening, but it doesn\u2019t mean organizations should pinch pennies to make up for setbacks. On the contrary, it\u2019s all the more reason to invest in long-term employee engagement strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Companies rely on tried-and-true methods to track engagement<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
HR.com found that 61% of organizations consistently measure employee engagement<\/strong>, with the most common methods being:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Surveys (79%), <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Turnover and retention data (61%), and<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Stay and offboarding interviews (59%).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Unfortunately, only 18% of businesses that track engagement state that the majority of their workforce (over 80%) is highly engaged<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The differences between disengaged and engaged employees are stark<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Insights on employee engagement from McKinsey<\/a> highlight 6 worker archetypes based on their engagement and satisfaction:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Thriving stars<\/strong> \u2014 Score high when it comes to performance, well-being, and maintaining healthy work-life boundaries<\/a>. They make up 4.5% of the workforce.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Committed workers<\/strong> \u2014 Perform their tasks reliably, often help coworkers, and boost team morale<\/a>. They comprise 40% of the workforce.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Double-dippers<\/strong> \u2014 Are mildly engaged, hold two or more jobs simultaneously, and account for 5% of the workforce.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Mildly disengaged workers<\/strong> \u2014 Report low performance, satisfaction, and commitment levels. They comprise 33.5% of the workforce.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Disruptors<\/strong> \u2014 Poor performers with deep job dissatisfaction whose attitudes negatively affect their coworkers. They make up 12% of the workforce.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Quitters<\/strong> \u2014 Highly unmotivated and unenthusiastic about every aspect of their jobs. They make up 10% of the workforce. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Building on these differences, Gallup measured that engaged workers<\/strong>, <\/strong>such as \u201cthriving stars\u201d and \u201ccommitted workers\u201d, lower<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Absenteeism<\/strong> by 78%,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Safety incidents<\/strong> by 63%, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Turnover rates<\/strong> in high-turnover companies by 21%.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
In engaged teams, reaping the above benefits starts with managers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\ud83c\udf93 Pumble Pro Tip<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
This resource outlines several employee engagement strategies you can try, including a handy employee engagement survey template:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- How to Improve Employee Engagement in the Workplace<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
![\"Employee_Engagement_Statistics_2026_In_the_US\"](\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Employee_Engagement_Statistics_2026_In_the_US_-1-2.webp\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nEngagement among managers is declining<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The State of the Global Workforce report from 2025 found that manager engagement is on the decline. <\/strong>This is a bad sign, as the 2024 issue noted managers can cause variations in employee engagement of up to 70%<\/strong>. Thus, they play an integral part in employee performance<\/a> and well-being. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A plausible explanation for this decrease is that managers are at a higher risk of experiencing negative emotions than their peers in non-managerial roles<\/strong>. Although they experience similar levels of stress, anger, and loneliness, the gap widens when it comes to sadness and worry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Safety incidents<\/strong> by 63%, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Committed workers<\/strong> \u2014 Perform their tasks reliably, often help coworkers, and boost team morale<\/a>. They comprise 40% of the workforce.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Thriving stars<\/strong> \u2014 Score high when it comes to performance, well-being, and maintaining healthy work-life boundaries<\/a>. They make up 4.5% of the workforce.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 17% of workers were actively disengaged<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Not engaged<\/strong> \u2014 Employees who aren\u2019t enthusiastic about their jobs but do what is required, although they may step back from more demanding work. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Increased organizational profitability (by 23%),<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Improved employee well-being (by 70%),<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
![\"Keep](\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Keep-a-pulse-on-your-team-with-polls-in-Pumble-a-team-communication-platform-by-CAKE.com-.webp\")
![\"Create](\"https:\/\/pumble.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Create-feedback-loops-with-calls-and-messages-in-Pumble-a-business-communication-app-.webp\")