86% of Indian workers struggling at work, only 14% thriving: report

The 2024 Gallup State of the Global Workplace report reveals a worrying trend in the well-being of Indian employees.

According to the report, a mere 14% of Indian workers describe themselves as "thriving," which is significantly lower than the global average of 34%. Conversely, a staggering 86% of Indian employees categorize themselves as either "struggling" or "suffering."

Gallup's report uses a three-tiered well-being framework: thriving, struggling, and suffering. Employees who are "thriving" have a positive view of their current life situation and are optimistic about the future. Those who are "struggling" experience uncertainty or negativity about their present circumstances, which may include stress or financial concerns. Meanwhile, "suffering" employees feel miserable and have a pessimistic outlook on their future.

"This trend is consistent across all countries surveyed in the region, with India showing the second-highest rate of thriving at only 14%, behind Nepal at 22%," Gallup stated in a press release.

The report also delves into daily emotional experiences, highlighting that 35% of Indian respondents report experiencing daily anger, the highest rate in South Asia. On the other hand, India recorded the lowest daily stress level in the region, with only 32% of respondents reporting stress. This contrasts sharply with higher stress levels reported in Sri Lanka (62%) and Afghanistan (59%).

Despite these challenges, India maintains a high employee engagement rate of 32%, which is well above the global average of 23%.