Employee sentiment dipped in September

The Employee Motivation and Commitment Index fell one point to 148 in September, the first decline after four consecutive months of record highs.

Manufacturing showed the biggest decline, shedding 14 points to 215, its largest month-to-month drop since December.

Health care and social assistance fell 12 points to 128, and information dropped 11 points to 139.

Real estate had the largest increase, climbing 17 points to 141, its highest reading since August 2023. Retail and wholesale trade rose one point to 157, reaching its fourth record high in as many months.

Sentiment among knowledge workers climbed one point to 136, a sixth straight record high. Knowledge worker sentiment pulled even with skilled task worker sentiment, which fell two points.

Repetitive task worker sentiment fell for the second month, shedding three points to 114.

“Employee sentiment is holding strong through uncertainty,” said Dr. Mary Hayes, director of People and Performance at ADP Research. “People are holding onto their jobs and appear motivated to work.”

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 September 2 through 5, 2025.

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 October 21. For EMC Index historical data, visit the ADP Research Data Lab.