Employee sentiment weakens for sixth month

The ADP Research Employee Motivation and Commitment Index, which tracks how people think and feel about their jobs, shed 4 points to 131 in a broad-based pullback. The February reading caps an unprecedented six-month run of weakness, putting worker sentiment at its lowest level since May 2025.

Sentiment weakened in five of the 10 sectors we track and across all three worker types.

Manufacturing fell 18 points to 192, its steepest month-over-month drop since August 2024 and the biggest drop of any sector. Transportation and warehousing fell for the third month, shedding 15 points to 147, its lowest reading since May 2025.

After reaching a record high in November, sentiment among construction workers slipped for the third month, falling 12 points to 101.

Professional, scientific, and technical services, which had been weakening off a record high in July, bounced back 6 points to 128.

Workers of all types showed less motivation and commitment to their jobs in February. Sentiment among repetitive task workers fell 10 points to 100, the largest month-over-month drop since the series began in March 2022. Knowledge worker sentiment declined for the fourth month, falling 2 points to 123. Among skilled task workers, sentiment was down 5 points to 131.

Sentiment fell in all but two of the seven employer size categories we track. At the largest employers, the index has marked a steep downward trend for months.

“A lack of job opportunities is weighing on workers,” said Dr. Mary Hayes, director of People and Performance at ADP Research. “Faced with few options, they’re pressured to stay in their current jobs, and sentiment is taking a hit.”

About the EMC Index

The Employee Motivation and Commitment Index tracks how people think and feel about their jobs and employers. ADP Research collects data each month using a panel survey to gather a stratified, random panel sample of 2,500 U.S. workers. This month’s survey was fielded February 2 to 6, 2026.

We identify respondents by work type based on their choice of three options:

• I have a level of freedom to use my expertise to create something new. (Our definition of knowledge worker.)
• I use a level of expertise to solve similar problems each day. (Our definition of skilled task worker.)
• I do similar repetitive tasks each day. (Our definition of repetitive task worker.)

By providing a real-time measure of the state of worker allegiance, the index can tell us whether people are flourishing in their jobs or detaching. ADP Research publishes the EMC Index on the third Tuesday of every month. The next release will be March 17.