New Motivation Meter from Korn Ferry Examines Global Organizational Sentiment

• UK motivation lowest, India highest
• CEOs are nearly 25% more motivated than those in non-managerial roles
• Millennials are the most motivated workforce generation.

Global organizational consulting firm Korn Ferry (NYSE: KFY) announced the launch of its new Motivation Meter, a measurement of workers’ motivation reflecting global sentiments.

The Motivation Meter examines workplace trends and dynamics affecting employee sentiment across all employees’ roles and career stages. Results from a survey fielded in March and April 2024 found that 71% of global workers are motivated to go above and beyond their role requirements.  

“Amid hybrid work and growing concerns of disconnection in the workplace, it’s essential for organizations to focus on supporting employees with the right incentives, rewards and development opportunities to help them advance and reach their full potential,” said Mark Arian, CEO of Korn Ferry’s Consulting business. “Professionals who are motivated and feel excited about their work will release discretionary energy that will allow them to thrive, and ultimately become more aligned to the business strategy, delivering more value to the organization.”

Key global data points include:

• Geographical differences abound: Of the geographies surveyed, the United Kingdom saw the lowest motivation in March and April 2024 with only 60% of professionals indicating that they are motivated, compared to 71% globally. Motivation levels in the UK also represent the lowest levels of any geography surveyed. In contrast, three in four U.S. workers (75%) are motivated. India has the most motivated workforce in 2024 overall (84%), according to the survey.
• Motivation highest at CEO level, lowest for those who are not managers: Non-managers have the lowest motivation across all job levels, a trend which is most notable in the significant motivation gap between CEOs (81%) and those who are not in manager roles (57%). Overall, these low motivation levels may be driven by several factors, including the reprioritization of work-life balance, uneasiness around the rise of AI, and ongoing struggles to find a sense of purpose at work.
• Millennials are the most motivated workers: Millennials are the most motivated generation (75%). Younger Gen Z workers have typically shown higher levels than Millennials, but according to our recent survey are now lagging. Similarly, Gen X and Boomers have previously responded around the same level as, or slightly higher than, Millennials but the recent survey indicates they are trending lower as age increases.

Methodology

Korn Ferry surveyed 10,000 professionals at all levels during March and April 2024, from entry-level to CEO, in six key markets: USA, UK, Brazil, Middle East, Australia, and India. Historical data from the past five years has been collected via the Korn Ferry Institute’s proprietary listening tool KF Listen, to set benchmarks for motivation over time. These questions were replicated with a larger sample to take a pulse of global employees at work.

About Korn Ferry

Korn Ferry is a global organizational consulting firm. We work with our clients to design optimal organization structures, roles, and responsibilities. We help them hire the right people and advise them on how to reward and motivate their workforce while developing professionals as they navigate and advance their careers.

Source – Korn Ferry