The pulse of the workplace: Mid-year 2025 benchmark updates

By Culture Amp

www.cultureamp.com

The pulse of the workplace: Mid-year 2025 benchmark updates | Culture Amp

What is the state of employee engagement as of mid-year 2025? Here's what our people scientists learned after diving into the data.

Key Insights from Culture Amp’s 2025 Mid-Year Benchmarks

Employee engagement continues to decline globally, even as organisations introduce new processes and clarity around goals. The data reveals that what truly moves engagement isn’t more structure — it’s more human leadership. Employees are looking for leaders they can trust, who genuinely show that people matter, and who invest in their growth. The companies performing in the top quartile aren’t succeeding because they have more systems — they’re winning because their leaders are more connected, present, and people-centric.

LabNotes: 

Engagement isn’t lost because of broken processes — it’s lost because of broken connection.

• Leadership confidence is now the #1 driver of engagement, globally.

• Employees don’t want more reporting; they want more relationship.

• Culture scales through behaviour, not policy.

• If leaders don’t show people they matter, no initiative will save engagement.