Younger workers most engaged in the workplace, research reveals

Workplace engagement looks different depending on age, gender and sector, according to research from Reward Gateway | Edenred. 

Younger workers, aged 18 to 34, were the most positive, with 81% saying engagement efforts meant something to them, compared to an average of 51%. 

Mid-career workers, 35 to 54, were less upbeat, with only 38% feeling supported to do their best work. 

Over half, 55%, of 25 to 34 year olds said they felt supported. 

Older workers, aged 55 and above, often felt ignored, with just 29% saying their organisation supported their performance.

The research also found differences in experiences between men and women. 

Half of the women surveyed reported feeling burnt out, compared to 37% of men. 

Women also placed more value on appreciation, with 55% calling it ‘very important’ compared to 43% of men. 

Women were more likely to say team connection and emotional support were important. 

Men, however, reported better access to leadership and support. 

Nearly half (49%) said their organisation helped them perform well, compared to 37% of women.

Emergency and frontline staff reported the highest levels of distress. 

74% of frontline workers said their workload had increased, compared to 55% in the wider public sector. 

68% reported understaffing and 64% said they were experiencing emotional burnout. 

Only 26% found engagement efforts meaningful. 

In education, only 13% of employees said they felt engaged with their organisation, with many citing workload and working conditions as reasons for leaving, despite a strong commitment to students. 

Central Government employees reported higher engagement, with 75% saying engagement efforts were meaningful. 

33% prioritised development opportunities, more than any other sector.

Colin Hodgson, commercial director at Reward Gateway | Edenred, said: “Our Public Sector Engagement report highlights a clear need for personalised engagement within the public sector. 

“We cannot take a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach when the workforce is made up of many different people, with different needs, experiences and requirements that vary depending on their role, sector, age and gender. 

“Whether this is by offering a range of benefits, or even making appreciation an everyday act, it’s important HR and People teams make consistent, visible efforts to engage their workforce, regardless of who it’s made up of.”