Global worker warning

A fifth of the world’s workers experience loneliness every day, with remote workers the most affected by the problem. And wellbeing among younger employees fell last year, according to the State of the Global Workplace: 2024 Report.

The Gallup survey also found that employee engagement was “a significant factor in overall life experiences” and low engagement costs the international economy an estimated $8.9 trillion a year.

Loneliness was highest among workers in South Asia, where 29% reported feeling lonely for a lot of the previous day. But people who work report feeling less lonely than those who are unemployed, and even remote work interactions such as video calls and texting help to improve mood.

Overall, employee wellbeing dropped slightly in 2023 – down from 35% to 34% - with those aged under 35 less likely to be thriving. The USA and Canada had the highest number of engaged workers (33%) while Europe scored the lowest (13%).

Gallup also found that a more engaged workforce delivered a number of benefits for organisations, including less absenteeism, fewer accidents and increased productivity and profitability.

The study said there was “strong evidence that decreasing the number of disengaged workers drives positive outcomes within organisations”.

Read the full report.