Research and Workforce Trends

Recent Posts

Press Release

UKG: 83% of Gen Z Frontline Employees Are Burned Out at Work, Over One-Third May Quit Because of It

LOWELL, Mass., and WESTON, Fla. | First impressions of frontline work aren’t impressing Gen Z, and with this cohort slated to become a third of the world’s working population by 2030, not improving the employee experience could have a dramatic ripple effect on the labor market today and into the future. A new global study by UKG of nearly 13,000 frontline employees and managers in 11 countries spanning all generations and industries shows the frontline workforce feels overworked, underappreciated, and tempted to quit for a better employee experience — with Gen Z (ages 18 to 27) reporting the worst impacts.
Media Coverage

Gen Z Are Burnt Out and Ready to Quit Their Jobs

Newsweek | A new survey has found that Generation Z frontline workers are increasingly burnt out, with 83 percent reporting feeling overwhelmed at work, according to data shared by UKG.
Press Release

UKG: Workforce Activity Provides Anticipated First Look at October Labor Market

LOWELL, Mass., and WESTON, Fla. | According to the UKG Workforce Activity Report, which provides a first look at labor trends at U.S. businesses for the month of October, workforce activity declined 1.9%. While the decrease is larger than historical norms, it can be directly attributed to Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Press Release

UKG: Are Retailers Ready for the Holiday Shopping Surge?

LOWELL, Mass., and WESTON, Fla. | As consumers prepare to hit their favorite stores to snag seasonal deals, retailers have ramped up staffing in preparation for another busy holiday shopping season. According to the fifth-annual survey on seasonal retail hiring trends from UKG, 88% of retailers have begun hiring for the expected seasonal surge, including 63% that began hiring associates before October.
Press Release

UKG: U.S. Manufacturers Building Momentum from Increased Productivity, Despite Talent Challenges

LOWELL, Mass., and WESTON, Fla. | Ahead of Manufacturing Day in the United States, the fifth-annual survey on manufacturing talent trends from UKG shows 3 in 4 manufacturing organizations (76%) experienced moderate growth in demand for goods and services and 66% noted increases in production capacity in year-over-year (YoY) comparisons. Furthermore, despite rising turnover and retirements among their frontline workforce, 74% of manufacturers report increased productivity, and 58% say total employee headcount continues to expand.
Press Release

UKG: Workforce Activity for September Breaks Typical Seasonal Pattern

LOWELL, Mass., and WESTON, Fla. | Workforce activity increased 0.4% in September, the largest increase businesses have experienced during any September over the past four years, according to the UKG Workforce Activity Report. However, the recent growth follows deeper-than-usual declines in both July (-0.8%) and August (-1.8%), which reinforces the labor market is not in a typical, seasonal pattern.
Press Release

UKG: Workforce Activity Slows Further in August

LOWELL, Mass., and WESTON, Fla. | Workforce activity declined for the second consecutive month, decreasing -1.8% in August, according to the UKG Workforce Activity Report. The decrease follows July’s -0.8% decline.
Media Coverage

Watching the final days of the Olympics when you’re supposed to be working? How the Games are costing U.S. companies $2.6 billion in lost productivity.

MarketWatch | The UKG Workforce Institute, a global think tank focused on the labor market and world of work, surveyed Americans about their Olympics viewing habits and found that 12.3 million plan to catch the Games during work hours without their boss’s permission. And they are planning to devote at least six hours to such viewing, according to the survey, which was conducted by the Harris Poll on UKG’s behalf.
Media Coverage

The Olympics Could Be a Major Drain on Worker Productivity

Inc. | According to a a recent survey from the UKG Workforce Institute (conducted by the Harris Poll), 59 percent of employed Americans plan to watch the Summer Olympics this year, and more than a third plan to watch live. With Paris up to 12 hours ahead of the U.S., depending on the state, that could mean workers are watching from their desks this week.  
UKG Workforce Institute

An Olympic-Sized Event Could Emerge Across America This Summer: Missing Work to Watch the Games

Millions of U.S. workers plan to skip work or watch during work hours to catch the 2024 Summer Olympics, potentially impacting productivity.