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Today’s workforce is evolving, with context and needs shifting rapidly, often rendering annual reports outdated by their completion. Leaders looking to create a more empathetic and human-centered environment for employees need reliable data to make data-driven investments that improve people and financial performance in real time.

Here are a few key insights every leader should know about the perspectives and experiences of workers in the United States from the latest Pulse of the U.S. Workforce report by CivicScience and idealis:

1. Young Workers are Struggling to Develop Skills

  • Early-career professionals are falling behind, with limited resources to grow in their jobs. This disparity can impact long-term career growth and organizational succession planning.
  • 32% of workers aged 18-24 feel they lack opportunities for skill development in their roles, higher than the population average of 27%.
  • Household income plays a role, with 76% of workers earning over $100K feeling they have development opportunities versus 71% of those earning under $100K.

2. Workplace Friendships Remain Strong Across the U.S. But Lag Among Some Segments

  • Workplace friendships enhance collaboration, engagement, and retention, making them a cornerstone of a positive company culture.
  • 77% of U.S. workers report having a friend at work, a critical factor in job satisfaction and productivity. 
  • Black (68%) and Hispanic/Latino (71%) workers report the lowest rates of workplace friendships, compared to 79% for White workers.

3. Leadership Empathy May Fuel Trust

  • For those who lead people, 70% trust their CEO as compared to those who don’t lead others (49%).
  • This could indicate that those in leadership positions have more empathy for those at the top of the organization and are more readily trusting of their leadership.
  • High trust in leadership reflects effective communication and shared organizational values, which are critical for company stability and growth.

Join the Conversation: Are you friends with your coworkers?

Our recent webinar highlighted the biggest findings from this report, you can access it here.

Powered by real-time data collected by CivicScience, The Pulse of the U.S. Workforce offers executives critical insights to lead with more agility and impact in today’s rapidly changing workplace. 

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