The global percentage of engaged employees fell to 21% in 2024, only the second time the metric has fallen in the past 12 years — and managers may be at the heart of the problem, according to a Gallup report released Wednesday.
Managers suffered the steepest decline in engagement compared to every worker category, Gallup said, especially managers under 35 and women managers.
Reports have been warning about a “manager crash” for months; one meQuilibrium study from November 2024 posited that 2025 could bring a significant downturn in manager well-being and the ability to do their jobs due to a lack of support.
A Top Workplaces report from January also flagged manager burnout as one of the top challenges employers will face in 2025.
“Manager engagement affects team engagement, which affects productivity. Business performance — and ultimately GDP growth — is at risk if executive leaders do not address manager breakdown," Jim Harter, Gallup’s chief workplace scientist, said in a statement.
To fix disengagement, Gallup recommended training and development for managers. Managers likely agree; 45% of managers surveyed by TalentLMS said their company isn’t doing enough to cultivate future leaders and that leadership training remains a neglected initiative, according to a December 2024 report.
Of those development opportunities, Gallup highlighted teaching managers how to be better coaches. Providing manager training improved manager thriving from 28% to 34%, Gallup said; this percentage improves even further if a manager has someone to encourage that ongoing development.
