Financial uncertainty and fast technological change are reshaping expectations for each employers and workers, with versatile working persevering with to be underlying theme of most office conversations. In line with the 2025 World Office Report from WorkL primarily based on suggestions from greater than half 1,000,000 workers throughout over 100 international locations, there are additionally widening divides between generations, differing attitudes in the direction of profession ambition and a continued rise in anxiousness linked to automation.
One of the vital notable developments centres on the altering expectations of male workers. WorkL’s information signifies that males are putting far higher significance on flexibility than in earlier years, with hybrid preparations, the choice to work at home and in some instances a 4 day week rising as clear priorities. The report means that these requests are more and more particular fairly than normal, reflecting a shift in confidence round expressing wellbeing wants. This alteration aligns with rising satisfaction round working hours, significantly within the UK the place males’s scores elevated from 75 % in 2024 to 78 % in 2025. The findings indicate that flexibility is changing into a central consider males’s engagement and psychological well being.
World worker engagement stays regular at 75 %. India, the Philippines and the UAE lead worldwide rankings, whereas superior economies together with Australia, Eire and Canada have fallen behind, all scoring 71 % or under. The UK has recorded a gradual rise to 73 %, though issues persist round honest pay and reward. The USA continues to carry out above the worldwide common with a rating of 76 %, supported by robust outcomes for job satisfaction and empowerment.
WorkL’s Flight Danger metric, which measures the proportion of workers contemplating leaving their roles, stands at 20 % worldwide however is considerably greater for sure teams. Younger employees aged 16 to 18 report a Flight Danger of 37 %, whereas these with lower than one 12 months of tenure are additionally extra more likely to transfer on. Non managers, workers figuring out their gender as Different and people who favor to not disclose incapacity standing additionally present elevated ranges of intention to go away. At a nationwide degree, Egypt information the best rating at 32 %, adopted by Australia and the UK. India, the Philippines and the UAE seem extra steady.
The information means that hybrid working stays strongly linked to optimistic worker sentiment. Hybrid workers report an engagement rating of 77 %, with distant employees shut behind at 76 %. Those that by no means work at home report a considerably decrease rating of 72 %. Greater than half of workers say they’re best when working from house, in contrast with 30 % preferring the workplace. This continues to form debates round return to workplace insurance policies.
The report additionally highlights a narrowing of the office happiness hole within the UK. Males proceed to report barely greater engagement than ladies, at 74 % in contrast with 73 %, however the distinction is reducing. Girls present a noticeable enchancment in anxiousness scores. Nevertheless, they continue to be extra more likely to contemplate leaving their jobs, reflecting ongoing challenges linked to caring obligations, uneven help for well being wants and patchy entry to versatile working.
World outcomes present persistent gaps within the expertise of disabled workers. Engagement amongst disabled employees stands at 68 % in contrast with 73 % for non disabled workers, with the most important variations present in perceptions of honest pay. The USA stands out as the one nation the place disabled workers report greater engagement than the nationwide common.
Know-how stays a supply of uncertainty. Employment amongst early profession employees in AI uncovered roles has fallen by 13 %, contributing to rising anxiousness amongst youthful teams. Sixty two % of workers say that AI has already modified their job, with blended views concerning the impression. Most organisations have but to introduce AI into HR processes, though many point out plans to take action.
The report additionally notes a continued rise in what it describes as profession minimalism. Engagement amongst 16 to 18 12 months olds is the bottom recorded at 64 %, with youthful employees putting higher emphasis on flexibility and values than on development. Engagement peaks amongst these aged 25 to 34 earlier than falling once more amongst older teams, who are inclined to prioritise safety and autonomy.
Sector outcomes present expertise on the prime of the rankings with an engagement rating of 81 %, adopted by monetary providers and advertising and marketing and promoting. Retail stays among the many lowest scoring sectors at 71 %. UK retail particularly reviews an engagement rating of 66 % and a Flight Danger of 36 %, reflecting rising issues round job safety.
