Regional Engagement Insights That Matter: What Canada & the U.S. Can Learn from Gallup’s 2025 Global Workplace Report

Disclaimer: This article includes analysis and commentary on publicly available data from Gallup’s 2025 State of the Global Workplace Report. All interpretations and recommendations reflect the perspective of Intuitive HR Insights and do not represent Gallup’s views. Data used under fair use for educational and informational purposes.

Engagement in the workplace has never been more important or harder to achieve. In today's swiftly changing landscape, marked by hybrid work models, economic uncertainty, and shifting employee expectations, understanding the elements that foster engagement is essential for success.

Gallup’s 2025 State of the Global Workplace report shines a revealing light on employee engagement, wellbeing, and intent to stay - providing leaders with data they can no longer afford to ignore. At Intuitive HR Insights, we’ve distilled the findings most relevant to workplaces in Canada and U.S. employers to help you navigate these dynamics and create actionable strategies for improvement.

Let’s dive into what the numbers tell us about our workplaces - and what you can do about it.

🌱Are we really thriving at work? Or just getting by? 😟 Gallup’s latest report shows Canadians are stressed, disengaged & lonely.

Canada: Thriving but Stressed🌟🌪️ Engaged but Ready to Leave🌟✈️

Canada presents a fascinating workplace paradox.

On one hand, Canadians report relatively high levels of life satisfaction, with 53% describing themselves as “thriving”, slightly ahead of their U.S. peers. Yet, on the other hand, their workplace engagement tells a very different story.

According to Gallup, only 21% of Canadian employees are engaged at work - below the global average (21%) and far below the United States (32%). Meanwhile:

• 58% of Canadian workers report experiencing daily stress, significantly higher than the U.S. rate of 50%.

• 16% report feeling lonely every day, another marker of workplace wellbeing challenges.

• Nearly one in five (19%) feel anger daily, slightly more than their U.S. counterparts (17%).

Despite these stress indicators, Canadians express notable optimism about their job prospects. A striking 67% believe it is a good time to find a job, compared to just 56% in the U.S. However, this optimism may also explain why 45% are either watching for or actively seeking a new job.

These findings suggest that while Canadians value their overall quality of life, their workplaces often fail to foster meaningful engagement and connection - leaving many open to better opportunities elsewhere.

At Intuitive HR Insights, we help organizations uncover and address the root causes of disengagement, designing strategies that improve connection, purpose, and retention - even in high-turnover markets like Canada’s.

🚨 What’s really going on in the workplace? 🚨 In the U.S.: higher engagement - but also higher intent to leave.

United States: Engaged but Restless 🔥🚪

The U.S. workforce stands out in the global data for relatively higher engagement and productivity - but also for surprisingly high turnover intentions.

Higher engagement doesn’t necessarily mean higher retention.

According to Gallup's findings:

• 32% of American employees are engaged - significantly above the global and Canadian averages.

• 52% say they are thriving, comparable to Canadians.

• Stress levels are high but lower than Canada’s, with 50% experiencing daily stress and 15% reporting daily loneliness.

• Yet despite this engagement advantage, a full 50% of U.S. employees are looking for or open to a new job.

  
  

What explains this paradox? Higher engagement doesn’t necessarily mean higher retention. As Gallup’s definitions remind us, engagement reflects how involved and enthusiastic employees are about their work and workplace - but factors like career development, manager support, and work-life balance also strongly influence whether they choose to stay.

Cultural factors in the U.S. - such as a fast-paced job market, higher individual mobility, and entrepreneurial mindsets - may also contribute to this restlessness.

For employers, these numbers highlight the importance of focusing not only on engagement scores but also on creating environments where employees see a future for themselves within the organization.

This requires ongoing investment in leadership development, career pathways, and meaningful recognition - all areas where Intuitive HR Insights can help you build sustainable strategies.

✨What This Means for Employers and Employees

These regional insights underline an urgent truth: in both Canada and the U.S., employees want more from their workplaces - more connection, more support, and more reasons to stay.

The main implications are:

• For employers: Manager capability is a make-or-break factor. Managers account for up to 70% of the variance in engagement scores. Equipping them with the tools and support they need is crucial.

  
  

• For employees: Awareness of your own engagement and wellbeing can empower you to advocate for change - or make a move to an environment that better aligns with your needs.

  
  

At Intuitive HR Insights, we partner with organizations to decode findings like these and turn them into tailored, actionable strategies. Whether it’s through leadership coaching, employee listening programs, or building engagement roadmaps, we help businesses in Canada and the U.S. move beyond the numbers to create workplaces where people can truly thrive.

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🎯 If you’re ready to turn insights into action and build a workplace that attracts, engages, and retains top talent - reach out to us today. Together, we can design strategies that make your organization a place where employees want to stay, grow, and succeed.

📩 Contact us at Intuitive HR Insights to learn more about how we can help you craft an engagement strategy that works.

Cheers,

Natasha