**The big picture:** Global worker engagement dropped to a five-year low of 20% in 2025, resulting in an estimated $10 trillion loss in productivity for the world economy, according to Gallup's 2026 State of the Global Workplace Report. **Why it matters:** This significant decline, particularly among managers, signals deep structural issues within organizations that impact talent retention, operational efficiency, and overall economic output. **Between the lines:** - Global engagement fell to 20% in 2025, down from a 23% peak in 2022-2023. - Manager engagement plummeted from 31% in 2022 to 22% in 2025, driving the overall decline. - Disengagement costs are estimated at 9% of global GDP, affecting 63 million workers since the 2022 peak. **Staffing & HR impact:** Staffing leaders face increased challenges in talent acquisition and retention as workers are more willing to act on dissatisfaction. HR must address manager burnout and re-evaluate AI implementation strategies to foster genuine engagement. **The bottom line:** The workforce is not just disengaged but increasingly mobile, demanding a fundamental shift in leadership and organizational structure to re-engage talent.