Organizations that strategically measure and act on employee engagement data are better positioned to navigate uncertainty and sustain workforce productivity, according to McLean & Company’s newly published research insights in the firm’s Employee Engagement Trends Report 2025. The report is based on insights from the firm’s Employee Engagement Survey and the HR Trends 2025 report.
According to the HR research and advisory firm’s Employee Engagement Survey database findings, 62.6% of employees are categorized as engaged, nearly 2% higher than pre-pandemic levels. However, the firm cautions that organizations cannot afford to be complacent. While high-level engagement scores have held steady, key drivers such as work-life balance, leadership communication, and career development opportunities showed incremental shifts that warrant proactive attention.
Key Findings From McLean & Company’s 2025 Employee Engagement Trends Report:
- Work-life balance gains traction, but leadership burnout persists. Work-life balance saw a 1.1-point increase in 2024, suggesting progress in employee satisfaction with flexible work arrangements and wellbeing initiatives. However, leadership burnout remains a growing concern, as people managers are 1.7 times more likely to report high levels of workplace stress compared to non-managers.
- Communication gaps in executive leadership persist. While organizations are increasing efforts to act on employee feedback, only 53.2% of employees reported understanding the rationale behind executive decisions, a slight decline from previous years.
- Career advancement and development shows modest growth but remains a concern. Employees seeking career progression opportunities saw minor improvements in 2024, yet perceptions of upward mobility within organizations remain a challenge. The report highlights that employees who receive meaningful feedback from their managers are 5.7 times more likely to feel supported in their career advancement efforts.
- Coworker relationships remain a strong engagement driver. With 78% of employees reporting positive co-worker relationships, strong co-worker connections continue to play a key role in fostering engagement and resilience.