Global Employee Engagement Falls to 20% for Second Consecutive Year, Costing World Economy $10 Trillion
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SHERIDAN, WYOMING - April 14, 2026 - Gallup's latest annual workplace research confirms that global employee engagement dropped to 20% in the most recent measurement period, marking the second consecutive annual decline and representing a measurable reversal of gains made in prior years. The collapse in manager engagement is identified as the primary structural driver behind the broader global fall. Low engagement levels cost the world economy an estimated $10 trillion in lost productivity last year alone. For organizations across industries, the data reframes workforce performance from an HR concern into a direct economic liability.