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Drawing on ADP payroll data and proprietary workforce surveys, our team delivers evidence-based insights on labor markets, the economy, and workplace trends and dynamics. 

Employee sentiment rose in December

Author: Mary Hayes, Ph.D., Jared Northup

Topics in this post:EMC IndexWorker sentiment

Correction: The Employee Motivation and Commitment Index rose in December. Finance, transportation and warehousing, professional services, and real estate also improved. The data released in December has since been updated on the website as of Jan. 13, 2025. A previous version of this post said these measures of worker sentiment had fallen.

The Employee Motivation and Commitment Index rose in December, rising 19 points to 137 and approaching a record high of 138 set in June.

Educational services, transportation and warehousing, finance, real estate, and professional services were among industries showing improvement in worker sentiment. Manufacturing, construction, health care, retail, and information fell.

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 Dec. 2, 2024. By providing a real-time measure of the state of worker allegiance, this index can tell us whether people are flourishing in their jobs or detaching.

Beginning in Oct. 2024, sector indexes are measured using a three-month rolling average.

ADP Research publishes the EMC Index on the third Tuesday of every month. The next release will be Jan. 21, 2025.