Culture Amp, the world’s leading employee experience platform, today released its 2025 benchmark data, revealing a continued decline in employee motivation and recognition. The latest research indicates that while employees remain committed to the value of their work, motivation eroded for the third consecutive year. At the same time, perceived recognition has reached a five-year low, pointing to an urgent need for organizations to rethink their approach to feedback, performance reviews, and career development.

“The sustained decline in employee motivation and recognition is a clear warning signal for business leaders. Our data demonstrates that recognition isn't just about employee satisfaction, it's fundamentally tied to organizational performance and resilience,” said Culture Amp CEO & Co-Founder, Didier Elzinga. 

“Companies that address these trends by implementing robust feedback systems and meaningful recognition practices will not only see improved retention, they will see measurable gains in productivity and innovation. In today's competitive market, the difference between high-performing organizations and those falling behind will come down to how effectively they recognize, develop, and motivate their talent.”

Key Findings from Culture Amp’s 2025 Benchmark Data:

• Motivation continues to decline: Employee motivation to go above and beyond has dropped for the third year in a row.
• Company confidence is declining in North America: Favorability has dropped year-over-year from 80% in 2021 to 72% in 2024.
• Recognition is at a five-year low: Only 69% of employees feel appropriately recognized, and just 60% believe the right people are rewarded for their efforts.
• Confidence in performance reviews is fading: Employee agreement that performance reviews accurately reflect their impact has dropped from 77% in 2022 to 70% in 2024.
• Understanding success vs. high performance: While 87% of employees understand what’s needed to succeed in their role, only 76% know how to stand out as high performers—widening the gap by 3% in the last year.

"Our data tells a compelling story about today's workplace reality," said Fresia Jackson, Director of People Science Research at Culture Amp. "In recent discussions with companies across industries, I consistently hear 'we're trying to do more with less.' This sentiment aligns perfectly with our benchmark findings. As recognition reaches a five-year low and motivation continues its three-year decline, companies expecting increased productivity may be setting unrealistic expectations. The declining confidence in leaders we're observing is directly connected to this disconnect. In this uncertain climate, employers are asking for more while employees are increasingly questioning 'but what for?' Our research shows that organizations bucking this trend are those providing a compelling vision that connects each employee's contributions to the company's future and recognizing progress in meaningful ways.”

What This Means for Organizations

Culture Amp’s analysis reveals that the top three global drivers of motivation are career opportunities, appropriate recognition, and knowing what is needed to succeed in their role. The research—drawing from more than 22,500 comments across 2,800+ companies worldwide—shows employees appreciate on-the-job learning and view workplace challenges as growth opportunities, even in the absence of traditional promotions.

In today's resource-constrained environment, employees maintain intrinsic motivation while seeking stronger extrinsic support from their companies. This means that organizations that prioritize strategic feedback and meaningful recognition aligned with company goals will cultivate more motivated, high-performing workforces.