Employee productivity refers to the amount of work accomplished by an employee in a given time period. It measures the efficiency with which your workforce performs tasks and achieves desired outcomes. By understanding key employee productivity statistics, employers can better manage their workforce and identify areas for improvement.
Below are some employee productivity statistics that employers should know, starting with some historical stats that are the foundation of this field of study. We’ll then highlight some more recent stats to help you understand current employee productivity trends and how you might improve your employees’ output going forward.
Some important stats to remember:
- 80% of workers are suffering from “productivity anxiety.”
- 62% of workers remain disengaged.
- 56% of financially stressed employees are distracted at work.
- More than a million workers miss work every day because of stress.
General Employee Productivity Statistics
1. A good employee productivity percentage is about 70%
Business operations employees and consultants often discuss employee productivity in terms of how much time each employee spends on revenue-producing activities during a workday. In general, businesses should look for about 70 to 75% productivity.
While there’s only anecdotal discussion of this, the idea is rooted in sports and means that an employee should spend 25% or less of their day on nonwork activities. No individual can be expected to be focused and productive 100% of the time.
(Clockify)
2. It takes an employee 25 minutes on average to refocus after an interruption
Every time an employee is interrupted, it takes them at least 25 minutes to refocus on their prior task. The report further added that the attention span of people nowadays is only 47 seconds compared with 2.5 minutes in 2004. That shows the time we waste because of distractions.
(CNN)
3. 62% of employees are not engaged
Gallup’s 2024 State of the Global Workplace report reveals that more than half of workers across the globe are disengaged, which affects their productivity. The same report also revealed that, because of the low engagement, organizations lose $8.9 billion in global GDP.
(Gallup)
Recognition & Employee Productivity
4. 77.9% of employees say that being recognized makes them more productive
This employee engagement and productivity statistic shows that when employees feel valued and appreciated for their contributions, they are more likely to be motivated and engaged in their work, leading to increased productivity.
Recognition can take various forms, such as praise, awards, and other incentives. For more recognition ideas to motivate your team, here are more appreciation ideas you can use in your employee engagement initiatives.
(Nectar)
5. Engaged employees are 23% more profitable
According to a Gallup-Workhuman study, engaged employees are not just productive but also 23% more profitable. This goes to show that engaged employees are more likely to go the extra mile, be innovative, and represent their company positively, which ultimately translates into better financial performance and increased profitability for the company.
(Workhuman)
Stress & Employee Productivity
6. 56% of financially stressed employees are distracted at work
Workplace productivity can dip because of factors not directly related to work. When an employee has financial stress, they spend three hours or more per week dealing with or thinking about their personal finances, reducing productivity. Financially stressed employees are also twice as likely to look for a new job.
(PwC)
7. 80% of employees are suffering from productivity anxiety
Productivity anxiety is the feeling that what you’re doing is never enough, which leads to feelings of dissatisfaction no matter what progress you have made, fear of failing, and an overwhelming sense of a never-ending to-do list.
If this type of stress persists, it affects a person’s productivity. In another study conducted by Adobe, one of the primary causes of productivity anxiety is global uncertainty.
(Workhuman)
8. About 1 million American workers miss work each day because of stress
According to research from the American Institute of Stress, 1 million American workers call out sick every single day because they’re stressed. Not only does this lead to reduced engagement, but it also decreases productivity, which increases a company’s costs. The more stressed workers are, the more likely they are to call out sick, further harming productivity.
(American Institute of Stress)
Technology & Employee Productivity
9. 80% of employees say a positive digital experience is key to success
According to a report on digital employee experience, 80% of employees think a positive digital experience, like automated processes and fully digital customer experiences, is vital to a company’s success. Further, 67% of surveyed employees said their digital experience was better outside of their workplace than inside.
(1E)
10. 90% of workers say gamifying their tasks makes them more productive
This statistic shows that by transforming routine tasks into engaging, competitive, or rewarding experiences, employees find their work more enjoyable and stimulating. This approach taps into psychological drivers like achievement, competition, and recognition, potentially leading to higher engagement, focus, and efficiency.
(Zippia)
11. 49% of employees experience Zoom fatigue
Employees are exhausted by staring at screens all day, especially during virtual meetings. Employers often attempt to raise morale and productivity by hosting online happy hours or events, which actually increases the amount of fatigue employees experience. Video call pressures also lead to negative feelings, putting unnecessary stress on employees and making them feel anxious, reducing productivity.
(Virtira)
12. AI can increase employee productivity by nearly 14%
Workers with access to an AI-based conversational assistant were 13.8% more productive than other employees. The employees using AI were able to resolve move issues per hour more than other colleagues without access to AI. The greatest increase in productivity was among newer and lower-skilled workers.
(National Bureau of Economic Research)
13. Checking phones is the top productivity killer in the workplace
According to a Workamajig survey, 90% of American workers check their phones during work hours. This takes away around 1.5 hours of potential work. Additionally, 15% of workers say they lose between three and five hours of work because of phone usage.
(Workamajig)
Management & Employee Productivity
14. 35% of employees say their bosses stress them out
These employees say when their boss stresses them out—usually from micromanaging them—they’re distracted from their work and less productive. In a New York Times article, a senior executive at Chegg said that when management backed off their employees and trusted them to do their jobs, productivity increased and projects were completed ahead of schedule.
That doesn’t mean things will always stay the same, especially as employees struggle with a lack of social interaction—but micromanagement is seldom the answer.
(Korn Ferry)
Looking to improve your employee management process? Look to our guide to effective people management skills for more information.
Remote Work & Employee Productivity
15. 56% of remote workers believe this arrangement helps them meet deadlines
This statistic suggests that remote work is conducive to productivity and timeliness. The flexibility, lack of commute, and quieter environment provided by working from home enable over half of remote employees to be more efficient and deadline-focused.
(Pew Research)
16. 85% of managers say hybrid work makes them question employee productivity
Despite the Pew research on remote workers meeting their deadlines, there still seems a lingering distrust among managers when it comes to employee productivity. Only 12% of managers have full confidence that their remote and hybrid teams are productive.
This productivity paranoia adds to employee stress and can even lead to productivity theater, where employees act busy so their manager can “see” them working. This can actually lead to a reduction in productivity because employees are attempting to placate their managers.
(Microsoft)
Productivity & Time Management
17. 82% of people don’t have a time management system
This statistic shows that a significant percentage of individuals lack a structured approach to organizing and prioritizing their daily tasks and responsibilities. This absence of a systematic method for managing time can lead to inefficiency, increased stress, missed deadlines, and a general sense of feeling overwhelmed.
(Zippia)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Some key factors that can impact employee productivity include the workplace environment and the tools/technology provided. Workplace environment focuses more on the physical comfort of employees. However, even if they have a conducive work environment and the right tools, a lack of engagement and work-life balance as well as poor organizational culture can hinder their productivity.
To fully use the power of data in terms of productivity, organizations need to gather data from multiple sources like workforce management systems, productivity tools, surveys and feedback platforms, and more. Then, they can use advanced analytics techniques to identify patterns and factors that correlate with different productivity patterns. Once they get that data, managers can then recommend actions to improve productivity based on the unique circumstances of each team or individual.
Remote work can increase productivity by reducing commute times and office distractions. However, it may also present challenges in communication and collaboration. The impact varies depending on the nature of work and individual preferences.
Bottom Line
In business, staying ahead of the curve is vital to your success. Unlock the full potential of your small business by investing in employee productivity strategies that address these statistics. Take action today to propel your company forward, ensuring long-term success and sustainability.
References: Clockify, CNN, Gallup, Nectar, Workhuman (Employee Recognition, Productivity Anxiety), PwC, American Institute of Stress, 1E, Virtira, National Bureau of Economic Research, Workamajig, Korn Ferry, Pew Research, Microsoft, Zippia (Gamification Statistics, Time Management Statistics)
