New Gallup study shows that half of the workforce in the US is struggling

Gallup’s new data show that 49% of U.S. workers say they are “struggling” in their lives, while a slightly smaller share report “thriving,” marking the first time since Gallup began tracking that struggling workers outnumber those thriving.

What the study actually finds

• Gallup surveyed about 22,000 U.S. employees in fall 2025 using its life evaluation index (thriving / struggling / suffering).

• Forty‑nine percent said they were struggling, and a slightly smaller share said they were thriving; a small remainder were categorized as suffering.

• This is the first time since Gallup’s tracking began in the 2000s that more workers are struggling than thriving.

Context and drivers

• The results come amid economic uncertainty: workers see low hiring and firing rates and are pessimistic about job prospects, with about three‑quarters saying it is a bad time to find a quality job.

• AI adoption is an added stressor; only a small fraction of employers in a related poll said AI has had a “high” impact so far, but its presence contributes to anxiety among already dissatisfied workers.

• This continues a multi‑year decline in wellbeing and engagement: earlier Gallup releases showed employee “thriving” at a record‑low 50% in 2024 and engagement falling to a 10‑year low.

Why it matters for employers and policymakers

• Workers who are struggling or suffering are significantly more likely to change jobs and drive higher turnover costs compared with those who are thriving.

• Gallup’s prior research ties low wellbeing to lower productivity, more absenteeism, and weaker organizational performance, while organizations that actively support wellbeing see much better outcomes.