Why Americans are Working Less and What It Means for You

Why are Americans are working less? Hint...it's not laziness.

Some interesting data recently dropped from Gallup:

• Full-time U.S. employees are now working ~3% fewer hours per week than they were in 2019.

• For employees under 35, the reduction is even more significant — about 4% fewer hours.

It may not seem like much, but over the course of a year, that’s equivalent to two extra weeks off for younger workers! ⏳

So what’s going on? Why are people working fewer hours, and what should organizations take from it?

It's Not Just About Productivity — It's About How People Feel at Work

Sure, technological advances and productivity gains play a role. In fact, Gallup found that 45% of employees say AI has helped them improve their productivity. But the real story lies in how people feel about their jobs and organizations.

Gallup’s research revealed several key insights:

• Burnout is rising, especially among younger and disengaged workers.

• Wellbeing is declining, reversing a decade of steady improvement.

• People feel more disconnected from their organizations.

• Employee engagement has dropped to its lowest level in 10 years.

People aren’t just logging off earlier — they’re emotionally checking out. Even more telling? Work-life balance and overall wellbeing now rank among the top priorities when people consider a new job — especially among younger workers.

What Can Organizations Do?

Invest in Your Greatest Superpower...Your People 🦸‍♀️

Wondering how to stem the tide of disengagement? The answer isn’t to force people back into the office full-time or demand longer hours. It’s to invest in your people.

✨ Make your mission and values clear — and lived. Don’t just frame them on a wall. Embed them in conversations, decisions, initiatives, and the employee experience.

✨ Connect your people's purpose and work to the organization’s. Employees want to do meaningful work. Help them understand how their contributions make a difference and drive the organization's success.

✨ Develop their skills, careers, and confidence. Growth is a key driver of engagement. Make learning and mentorship a core part of your culture. Help employees see how they can evolve and advance long term within the organization.

✨ Empower them to shine by leveraging their unique strengths. People who use their strengths at work are more engaged, productive, and fulfilled. Plus, you get the best of each individual — leading to a whole that’s far greater than the sum of its parts.

✨ Create space for authenticity. Encourage people to bring their full, authentic selves to work — and support them in doing so. Get to know the "real" them. When people feel they have to wear a mask at work, it drains energy — energy that could be channeled into creativity, collaboration, and impact.

Final Thought: It’s Time to Rethink Productivity

The data doesn’t suggest laziness — it signals a values shift. Employees are no longer measuring success by hours clocked, but by how well their wellbeing, purpose, and personal growth align with their organization.

So here’s the question every organization should be asking:

🤔 What are you doing to truly engage your people , not just get more hours out of them?

Let’s Connect

Looking to boost engagement, reduce burnout, or build more human-centered talent strategies that maximize your people superpower?

💬 Let’s talk. Talent development doesn’t happen by accident — it happens by design.