Workplace stress in 2026 is still worse than before the pandemic

The Gallup State of the Global Workplace 2026 finds elevated daily stress worldwide (about 40% of employees), declining employee engagement (a five-year low at 20%), disproportionately higher stress among managers, women, and younger workers, and modest improvements in overall thriving; regional differences show the United States and Canada with the highest reported stress. The report links engagement to productivity and AI adoption, noting managers' support strongly predicts AI use, and highlights implications for organizational wellbeing and productivity.