India Sees Surge In Workplace Stress, 50% Actively Seeking New Jobs: Gallup Report

According to Gallup's "State of the Global Workplace 2025" report, South Asia - comprising Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka - has the lowest proportion of employees who are thriving globally.

The region also records the highest levels of daily anger and stress among workers, in comparison to other areas such as the United States and Canada, sub-Saharan Africa, and Europe.

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Gallup, an international analytics and advisory organisation, is well known for its public opinion surveys and research on workplace wellbeing. Its "Global Workplace" report, published annually, provides insights into how employees around the world feel about their jobs and lives.

What is employee engagement?

Employee engagement refers to the level of enthusiasm and involvement employees feel towards their work and organisation.

The report explains that employees tend to feel engaged when their basic needs are met, they feel a sense of contribution and belonging, and they are given opportunities to grow and develop.

Findings on India

Gallup's report shows that employees globally - especially those in managerial roles - are feeling increasingly disconnected.

In 2024, global employee engagement dropped from 23% to 21%, a decline estimated to have cost the global economy $438 billion in lost productivity.

In India, employee engagement stands at 30%, down three percentage points from the previous year.

The report also notes high levels of stress and anger among Indian workers - 30% of Indian respondents reported experiencing daily stress, while 34% said they felt daily anger. In comparison, only 18% of Chinese employees and 6% of Finnish workers (from a country often rated the world's happiest) reported daily anger.

Additionally, nearly half of Indian employees are actively seeking new job opportunities, signalling dissatisfaction in their current roles.

A hefty 49% of Indian respondents admitted they are either monitoring the job market or actively pursuing a new position.