A new report from Gallup offers more aggregated statistics that nobody can dispute – it merely adds to the dense information fog that leaders offer the productivity world – front-line managers should read on and be prompted to change, or not
This annual report represents the collective voice of the global employee. In this year’s report, we examine the global rise in employees who are thriving at work, even as worker stress remains at a record high.
“What can leaders do today to potentially save the world?
Gallup has found one clear answer:Change the way your people are managed.”
Explore Key Findings
Although employee engagement is rising, the majority of the world’s workers are still quiet quitting. An improving job market may encourage those workers to quit for real.
Employee engagement reached a record high in 2022.
“I enjoy my work, and I would miss something if I didn’t have to work, even if the money stayed.” – Germany
“I just don’t feel like there’s a lot of room for me to grow internally.” – USA
Nearly six in 10 employees fell into this category.
When combined with actively disengaged employees, low engagement costs the global economy $8.8 trillion dollars, or 9% of global GDP.
Employee stress remained at a record high.
“By the time I’m done with work, I’m so exhausted that some days I don’t have the energy to hold a conversation. So, over time, I’ve had family [and] friends accuse me of not being socially receptive when they try to reach out.” – Nigeria
Employee stress rose in 2020, likely due to the pandemic. But employee stress has been rising for over a decade. Many factors influence stress, but Gallup finds that managers play an outsized role in the stress workers feel on the job, which influences their daily stress overall.
In 2022, the world experienced a surge in job opportunities.
Every region of the world but one saw an increase in the number of workers who said now is a good time to find a job where they live. The exception was the United States and Canada region, which saw its own surge in job opportunities the year before.
The increase in available jobs signals that the world economy is open for business. But employers will have to pay more attention to retaining their most talented workers as a result.
Over half of employees are actively or passively job seeking.
“I used to come home thinking only about work. I used to unload everything on my husband. Totally unsatisfied. Then, when I changed roles, it got a little better, but I was still unsatisfied.” – Brazil
Increased pay is a top factor in what people want in their next job. But improved wellbeing and opportunities to grow and develop are also highly prized by job seekers.
Engagement matters more than where workers work.
“I wish my manager was more present.” – Brazil
Gallup analysis finds that engagement has 3.8x as much influence on employee stress as work location. How people feel about their job has a lot more to do with their relationship with their team and manager than being remote or being on-site.
”Quiet quitters” know what they would change at work.
“My work does not give me the opportunity to go to church, visit family members, or travel for a while.” – Nigeria
41% – Engagement or culture
28% – Pay and benefits
16% – Wellbeing
Many respondents said they would like more recognition, opportunities to learn, fair treatment, clearer goals and better managers.