20 Noteworthy Productivity Statistics in 2024: Average Employee Productivity

Productivity is a measure of how effectively and efficiently things are done.

In terms of work, it’s the amount of input generated over a specified amount of time.

Productivity statistics can be used to track trends over time, identify where improvements can be made, and to compare the ideal across various countries or industries.

We have done some research and found credible sources to confirm the importance of productivity, especially in the workplace.

These statistics can be useful for helping businesses to identify ways to enhance their efficiency and profitability.

Statistical data regarding productivity can also help governments make informed decisions about their economic policies.

Finally, statistics about productivity can help individuals assess their own productivity and find ways to improve.

There are several ways to measure productivity.

For example, labor productivity is calculated by dividing output by the number of hours worked.

Moreover, total factor productivity is calculated by dividing output by a combination of things like labor input, energy input, and capital input.

In this article, we will address a variety of statistics, trends, and comparisons in productivity across industries and countries.

Also, we will address improving productivity and how it impacts individuals, businesses, and governments.

Post Contents

1 Key Statistics
2 Top Productivity Statistics in 2024
3 FAQs
4 Conclusion
- 4.1 Sources

Key Statistics

On average, employees are only 60% productive across industries.
Freelance workers are productive around 36 hours per week on average.
Using the internet causes a 40% loss in productivity in the workplace.
Organizations with more engaged employees enjoy 17% better productivity.
Globally, almost six out of ten employees are “quiet quitting”.
Employees are interrupted around every three minutes at work.
70% is considered a good level of productivity in the workplace.
Sufficient nutrition can boost productivity by 25%.
44% of employees revealed they feel stressed at work.
During the pandemic, 20% of employees took longer to perform tasks.

Top Productivity Statistics in 2024

1. On average, employees are only 60% productive across industries.

Across industries, the average worker is productive only 60% of their overall workday.

That means that they are only productive roughly 4.5 hours per day.

In terms of office employees, their average productivity is 31% of their workday, which accounts for 2 hours and 53 minutes.

That represents a total of 12.5 hours of weekly productivity on average.

(Quixy, Zippia)

2. Freelance workers are productive around 36 hours per week on average.

A Yahoo Finance study revealed that the average freelancers work around 36 hours per week.

That’s a stark contrast to the 12.5 hours of the office worker and the 22.5 hours of the overall worker across all industries.

Therefore, freelancers are productive for about 7 hours of their workday.

(Charity, TrueList)

3. Using the internet causes a 40% loss in productivity in the workplace.

One thing that causes a loss in productivity is internet usage at work.

Data shows that internet usage results in a loss of 40% of productivity in the workplace.

Around 60% of employees admit to using the internet while they are on the clock.

Shopping online, stock trading, and watching sports are some things they do online during work hours.

As a result, workplace productivity is lost.

(TrueList)

4. Organizations with more engaged employees enjoy 17% better productivity.

Statistics show that companies with more engaged employees are 17% more productive than companies with less engaged employees.

It makes sense that employees who are more engaged in their workplace are more productive than those who aren’t.

This shows us that highly engaged employees are generally more productive.

(TeamStage)

5. Globally, almost six out of ten employees are “quiet quitting”.

A Gallup poll revealed that six out of ten global workers are “quiet quitting”.

Quiet quitting isn’t about literally quitting their jobs.

Instead, this means that six out of ten employees are psychologically disengaged from work.

These employees may be physically at work and logged in for work, but they don’t know what to do, nor do they understand why it even matters.

(Gallup)

6. Employees are interrupted around every three minutes at work.

Research has shown that in the workplace, employees are interrupted about every three minutes and five seconds.

That’s a loss of productivity at work.

Additionally, it takes the average person about 23 minutes to get refocused after being interrupted.

This translates into employees getting only three minutes and five seconds of work done per 26 minutes they are at work.

(Apollo Technical)

7. 70% is considered a good level of productivity in the workplace.

We know what impacts productivity at this point, but what is considered a good level of productivity?

According to data, 70% productivity is considered a good percentage for employees.

Therefore, companies should be looking to achieve between 70% and 75% productivity overall.

Also, it’s believed that spending 25% or less of their workday on non-work activities is helpful to keep them focused.

(Clockify, Fit Small Business)

8. Sufficient nutrition can boost productivity by 25%.

Eating right and getting adequate minerals and vitamins in your diet boost energy levels, which also can result in a 25% higher level of productivity.

HubSpot calls it the productivity diet which includes eating vegetables and fruits at least four times per week.

As a result, they may be at least 20% more productive.

(Clockify)

9. 44% of employees revealed they feel stressed at work.

In a Gallup poll, 44% of employees said they have experienced stress at work over the previous day.

These are record-breaking levels of stress at work since the pandemic.

In fact, Gallup reported that during the pandemic, employee stress levels grew.

However, employee stress has been on the rise for more than 10 years. Stress has a negative impact on productivity.

(Gallup)

10. During the pandemic, 20% of employees took longer to perform tasks.

According to research, 20% of employees said it took them longer to complete their work tasks during the pandemic.

Furthermore, 28.3% said they found it hard to concentrate and 14.7% said it was harder to make decisions.

This shows that the global pandemic has taken its toll on the physical and mental health of people across the globe.

(TrueList)

11. Feeling overloaded at work results in a 68% decrease in productivity.

Employee shortages, hiring restrictions, and employee turnover has created an overload among employees.

People who have stayed at work throughout the pandemic have been feeling overloaded ever since.

Data shows that work overload results in a decrease of 68% in productivity.

Feeling overloaded at work also results in less time focused on work tasks.

(TeamStage)

12. Remote workers are 52% less apt to take time off for illness.

Employees who are working remotely are 52% less apt to take time off when they are ill.

They are also less apt to take personal and vacation time.

This doesn’t mean remote workers don’t fall ill, it means they are more likely to perform their tasks from home even while sick.

Also, they tend to require less vacation or personal time.

As a result, they are more productive.

(Quixy)

13. 86% of employees would rather work alone.

While the team ideal is good, 86% of today’s employees prefer to work alone whether at the office or at home.

The thought behind this is that they experience fewer distractions when they are working alone.

There are no other employees to distract or interrupt them, which allows them to be more productive.

Furthermore, they feel less pressured to interact and perform.

(ApolloTechnical)

14. A 40% reduction in productivity occurs due to multitasking.

While most employees think they can easily shift between tasks, or multitask, they are more apt to experience focus problems and fatigue because of it.

The truth is that multitasking has been shown to reduce productivity by 40% according to the American Psychological Association.

It makes sense that having to engage in multitasking across work tasks would be detrimental to productivity.

(Fit Small Business)

15. It can cost $1,967 per worker due to fatigue-related productivity loss.

Studies have shown that the financial cost due to fatigue-related productivity loss accounts for $1,967 per employee.

Fatigue at work is often due to lack of sleep, insomnia, and other sleep disturbances.

It’s not only bad for your health, but also, it’s costing you and the company money when you work while fatigued.

(G2, NIH)

16. Meetings have proven to be unproductive with 91% of employees daydreaming.

While meetings are usually a waste of time, they are also not always productive or helpful.

In fact, 91% of employees admit to daydreaming during work meetings (on-site or virtual).

Another 73% started working on regular work tasks during meetings.

About half of the employees surveyed said they think meetings are a waste of time.

(Chanty)

17. Working from home boosts productivity by up to 77%.

According to our sources, remote work boosts productivity by up to 77%.

In fact, 30% of remote workers said they were able to do more in less time and another 24% said they did more work tasks in the same amount of time.

Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays are believed to be the most productive days for those working from home.

Peak productivity occurs between 10:30 am and 3:00 pm according to statistics.

(TrueList)

18. 76% of employees think that wearable tech would boost productivity.

In today’s digital world people are becoming more dependent upon their smartphones and wearables to keep their schedules straight.

A whopping 76% of employees in one survey said they think using wearable technology provided by employers would help track employees’ time and make them more productive.

In contrast, many employees expressed concerns over how employers would use such technology.

(Zippia)

19. Insomnia impacts productivity which costs employers over $63 billion annually.

Statistics revealed that insomnia does impact productivity that results in costing employers $63.2 billion (USD) every year.

Moreover, the CDC reported data that showed more than 30% of the American workforce isn’t getting sufficient sleep.

(TrueList)

20. Facebook usage costs employers over $28 billion a year.

One study showed that due to employees using Facebook while at work (remote or on-site), employers are taking a $28 billion (USD) hit in annual costs.

Moreover, employees admit to spending 32% of their workday on the social platform.

Browsing the internet and scrolling through Facebook translates into “not working” which adds up in financial losses each year.

This data tells us that Facebook usage negatively impacts work productivity.

(ApolloTechnical)

FAQs

What is productivity?

The measurement of how effectively and efficiently things are done is productivity.

In the workplace, it’s the amount of output generated in a specific amount of time.

Productivity is measured at the organizational, team, or individual level, respectively.

What’s so important about productivity?

Productivity in the workplace is an essential element of business operations as it lets businesses generate more goods and services with fewer resources.

This allows companies to lower costs, increase their competitive edge, and to earn higher profits.

It’s also vital to individuals as it can help them earn higher incomes, enjoy a better work-life balance, and higher job satisfaction.

What are some common productivity challenges?

We found the following common productivity challenges:

1. Time management: It’s challenging to prioritize tasks and to effectively manage time, especially when there’s much to do.
2. Distractions: Today’s society has several distractions that impact how productive workers are. This includes email, social media, and coworkers. It can be challenging for some employees to maintain focus when so much is going on around them.
3. Lack of motivation: If you’re not interested in the task(s) in which you’re engaging, it’s harder to stay motivated to do them. In some instances, it becomes overwhelming.
4. Poor work environment: Things like a noisy office or an uncomfortable workspace can negatively impact work productivity.

How can you enhance your productivity?

We found a few things for our readers about how to improve your productivity in the workplace whether it’s on-site or remote.

1. Set clear priorities and goals: It’s important to know what you’re doing and how to accomplish your daily tasks. Prioritizing your tasks accordingly is vital to being more productive.
2. Plan your time: You must know what your daily tasks are and then create a plan of action for how to get them done. This is something that helps you maintain focus.
3. Eliminate distractions: Try to eliminate distractions as best you can in your work environment. Turn off your phone, close your email, and create a peaceful and quiet workspace whenever and wherever you can.
4. Take breaks: Be sure to take your regular breaks throughout your workday to prevent burnout. Get up and move around, relax for a few minutes, and use this time to clear your head before getting back to your tasks.
5. Self-care: Taking care of yourself is vital to your overall personal and work-related productivity. Eat healthy foods, get restful sleep, and get some regular exercise (even if it’s just a daily 20-minute walk). These are things that can help you keep your energy levels up and help you stay focused.

Conclusion

Now we all have a better idea of how important being productive in the workplace is no matter where you live.

Global statistics revealed issues during the pandemic, but some of those issues have carried over since the lockdowns ended.

If you’re an employer, this data should help you determine what to do about productivity issues if you’re not getting at least 70% to 75% in productivity from your employees.

It likely means they need more engagement and fewer distractions.

If you’re an employee, you should consider that if it costs your employer money when you’re unproductive, it will eventually hurt your earnings.

You can do your part to improve your own productivity by using these statistics and FAQS in your own life.

We hope you have enjoyed reading these productivity statistics and that you can use them along with the tips we provided to be more productive at work and at home.