Gallup's latest Life Evaluation Index survey, conducted in the fourth quarter of 2025, reveals a significant shift in the wellbeing of American workers. For the first time since Gallup began tracking this metric, more U.S. workers are classified as 'struggling' (49%) than 'thriving' (46%), with an additional 5% categorized as 'suffering' [1]. This marks a notable decline from the same quarter a year ago, when 50% of workers were thriving and 46% were struggling [1].
Historically, the share of thriving workers remained steady between 57% and 60% from 2009 to 2019, briefly dipping to 55% in 2020 before rebounding in 2021. However, since then, the thriving rate has been on a gradual and consistent decline, with no sustained improvement observed since early 2024 [1]. The third quarter of 2022 saw a recent peak in thriving workers at 55%, compared to 41% struggling, representing a 14-percentage point spread—the largest differential since 2022 [1].
Gallup emphasizes the real economic implications of this trend, noting that worker wellbeing directly impacts organizational performance. According to Gallup's research, thriving employees miss 53% fewer days of work due to health problems and are 32% less likely to be actively seeking a new job. As the thriving rate falls, risks to organizational performance increase, including higher absenteeism and turnover [1].
The report also highlights that all major segments of the U.S. workforce have experienced a worsening outlook since 2022, underscoring the broad impact of declining worker wellbeing across industries [1].
CONCLUSION
Gallup's survey signals a historic shift in American worker wellbeing, with more employees now struggling than thriving. This trend poses medium-level risks to organizational performance and the broader economy, as declining wellbeing is linked to increased absenteeism and job turnover. Employers and policymakers may need to address these challenges to mitigate negative market impacts.