--- title: "2026 EX Trends Report: Engagement Rising, Effort Withheld" description: Velocity's 2026 EX Trends Report, based on 22,000+ employees, finds engagement rising while employees hold back discretionary effort. See the findings. image: https://coaching.velocityadvisorygroup.com/hubfs/blog-featured-images/img-header-report-ex-trends-2026.webp --- [![Velocity Advisory Group](https://www.velocityadvisorygroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Velocity-Logo-2023-Wide-1.png)](https://www.velocityadvisorygroup.com/) ☰ Menu - About - [Meet Our Team](https://www.velocityadvisorygroup.com/about/) - [Meet Our Coaches](https://www.velocityadvisorygroup.com/coaches/) - [Careers](https://www.velocityadvisorygroup.com/careers/) - [Speaking Engagements](https://www.velocityadvisorygroup.com/velocity-speakers/) - Solutions - [Culture & Engagement](https://www.velocityadvisorygroup.com/culture-engagement/) - [DISC Assessments & Training](https://www.velocityadvisorygroup.com/disc-assessments-training/) - [Employee Experience](https://www.velocityadvisorygroup.com/employee-experience/) - [Executive Coaching](https://www.velocityadvisorygroup.com/executive-coaching/) - [Family Business](https://www.velocityadvisorygroup.com/family-business/) - [Leadership Development](https://www.velocityadvisorygroup.com/leadership-development/) - [Sales Training](https://www.velocityadvisorygroup.com/5cs-of-selling/) - [Strategy & Implementation](https://www.velocityadvisorygroup.com/strategy-implementation/) - Resources - [Activating Greatness Podcast](https://www.velocityadvisorygroup.com/podcast/) - [Blog](https://www.velocityadvisorygroup.com/blog/) - [Case Studies](https://www.velocityadvisorygroup.com/case-studies/) - [News and Announcements](https://www.velocityadvisorygroup.com/news-and-events/) - [OrderDisc](https://orderdisc.com/) - [Upcoming Events](https://www.velocityadvisorygroup.com/upcoming-events/) - Industries - [Construction](https://www.velocityadvisorygroup.com/construction/) - [Financial Services](https://www.velocityadvisorygroup.com/financial-services/) - [Life Sciences](https://www.velocityadvisorygroup.com/lifesciences/) - [Contact](https://www.velocityadvisorygroup.com/contact/) Insights & NewsNews March 3, 2026 # 2026 EX Trends Report Finds Engagement Rising, But Employees Are Withholding Discretionary Effort Employee engagement surveys give organizations a window into how their people are really experiencing work — and what is getting in the way. After surveying more than 22,000 employees across five diverse organizations, [Velocity Advisory Group](https://www.velocityadvisorygroup.com) found a consistent pattern in this year’s data: employee engagement is moving in the right direction, but the systems employees rely on for direction, fairness, and follow-through are beginning to strain. In the firm’s 2026 EX Trends Report, six recurring themes consistently ranked at the bottom across participating organizations: - Survey Follow-Up / Credibility - Strategic Alignment / Future Direction - Pay & Benefits (Fairness / Value) - Communication - Growth & Development / Career Clarity - Role Clarity & Fit While these metrics signal areas of concern, they often reflect deeper behavioral and structural challenges. For example, “Survey Follow-Up / Credibility” — the lowest-scoring theme at just 34% favorable — is rarely about the survey itself. It reflects whether employees believe that sharing feedback will lead to any visible change. When people stop expecting follow-through, they stop investing in the process. Over time, that perception quietly erodes the trust needed for engagement to translate into sustained effort. Similarly, “Strategic Alignment / Future Direction” and “Communication” frequently surface together. Employees are not confused about their own roles — role clarity remains relatively strong. What is less clear is where the organization is headed and whether leadership decisions are being explained in ways that make sense on the ground. A striking finding in this year’s data is the divide between team-level stability and organizational-level confidence. Overall engagement sits at 73% (a six-point increase from last year), and employee advocacy is strong, with 78% of employees saying they would recommend their organization as a place to work. Yet only 50% of employees feel motivated to contribute beyond what is normally required — a drop of eight points. Employees are recommending their organizations. They are becoming more selective about where they invest their energy. At the center of this tension is organizational credibility. Teams are largely functioning. Managers remain the strongest stabilizing force, with trust in direct managers averaging around 82% favorable. But when the broader organization falls short on follow-through, communication clarity, and pay fairness, managers are left carrying more than they should — and employees quietly recalibrate their commitment. In the report, Velocity experts explore what is driving this dynamic and what leaders can do about it, including: - Why engagement and discretionary effort are diverging — and what it takes to close the gap - How the trust gap between senior leadership and frontline managers is shifting in 2026 - The role managers play as buffers between organizational uncertainty and team stability - Why retention intent is high but increasingly conditional - 3 workforce predictions to watch in 2026 - A practical playbook with five actions leaders can take now to build credibility, reduce friction, and sustain engagement gains **[Download the full report](https://share.hsforms.com/1r41SxIvyS7q4LKFwu2L_1gqwjos) for access to all of the insights.** If you have any questions about the study or would like Velocity Advisory Group to support your next survey, please fill out our [contact form](https://www.velocityadvisorygroup.com/contact/) and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. **About Velocity Advisory Group** Velocity Advisory Group delivers strategic support and development opportunities that senior leaders need to align their teams and lift their organization. Our team brings extensive experience in strategic consulting, executive coaching, and developing talent through intentional culture initiatives and people insight technology. Since 2009, we have been committed to building momentum across organizations by equipping leaders with the tools and intelligence needed to elevate culture, eliminate inefficiencies, and propel strategic action. Learn more at [www.velocityadvisorygroup.com](https://www.velocityadvisorygroup.com/). 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