Singapore Leads Global Growth in Thriving Workers Despite Ongoing Workplace Pressures: ADP Report

26 June, 2025

More workers in Singapore are better at perceiving and managing stress, but new sources of pressure emerging from judgement in the workplace.

Singapore reports highest share increase in thriving workers globally, rising 11 percentage points to 26%.
China (40%), The Philippines (30%) and Indonesia (27%) have the highest share of thriving workers in Asia Pacific.
48% of survey respondents in Singapore feel judged for taking advantage of flexible working arrangements.

SINGAPORE, 26 JUNE 2025 – Singapore’s workforce has reported the highest increase in share of thriving workers globally, rising 11 percentage points to 26%, revealed the third study in ADP Research’s “People at Work 2025” report. According to the report, Singapore’s growth is a notable contrast to the global trend, which dipped by two percentage points in 2024. The study defines thriving workers as employees who perceive work pressures positively, contributing to higher engagement, productivity, resilience, and lower turnover rates.

Singapore trails behind its regional counterparts when it comes to the share of thriving workers. China (40%), The Philippines (30%) and Indonesia (27%) are the top three in Asia Pacific, which is above the regional score of 24%. The region with the highest proportion of thriving workers is Latin America with 34%, while the lowest is North America at 23%.

While Singapore’s workforce has made strides in how they perceive workplace stress, stress continues to be a concern for some. More than half (59%) of Singapore’s workforce still feel rattled, which means they are coping with stress but face relatively lower productivity. Another 15% of them feel overloaded and see work pressure as negative stress, contributing to decreased output and well-being.

Yvonne Teo, Vice President of HR, APAC at ADP said: “Stress is a constant in a high-performing economy like Singapore, but not all stress is harmful. The data shows that more workers are managing stress in ways that drive performance and growth, and employers should ensure that this is supported with sustainable workplace practices. At the same time, it’s crucial that employers don’t overlook those who feel overwhelmed. Businesses should stay attuned to their employees’ needs, prioritise their mental wellbeing, and ensure their work environments allow people to thrive."

Thriving, Rattled, and Overloaded workers

Thriving workers are more likely to experience work pressure as positive stress. They’re more engaged, resilient, productive, and less likely to quit. They also show higher levels of motivation and commitment.

Rattled workers fall in the middle. They experience stress and might not particularly like it, but they cope, perhaps at somewhat lower levels of productivity than they might achieve if they were thriving

Overloaded workers experience job pressure much more negatively and score lower in every category of worker well-being that was measured.

New Pressures: Navigating the Anxiety of Perception

The report also delves into the psychological toll of perceived judgment in the workplace, suggesting that pressure can come from workplace culture. About half (48%) of survey respondents in Singapore expressed feeling scrutinised or judged particularly in hybrid and remote work settings, which is higher than the global score of 32%. This perceived pressure can heighten negative stress levels, leading to reduced productivity and overall job satisfaction.

Globally, workers who feel judged are 3.4 times less likely to thrive on the job. A similar relationship exists between stress and feeling watched. Workers who feel like their manager is monitoring everything they do are 3.3 times less likely to thrive.

"The simple absence of bad on-the-job stress doesn't guarantee that workers will thrive. Other factors, such as a lack of trusting relationships with one's coworkers or leaders, or feelings of limited freedom and flexibility within the workplace, might also be involved,” said Nela Richardson, Chief Economist at ADP. “This matters for employers because overwhelmed and stressed workers are generally less efficient and tend to be less productive. Additionally, these individuals are more likely to look for new job opportunities. In contrast, employees who are thriving are less inclined to search for a new position.”

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About “People at Work 2025” Report Series Methodology

For the first time, “People at Work” is built on the ADP Research Global Workforce Survey, a robust study conducted regularly since 2015. The survey was designed by ADP Research’s team of analysts by obtaining information about the labour market from the perspective of workers themselves, with the goal of providing insights that can improve the world of work by better understanding worker sentiment and expectations.

Based on survey data from nearly 38,000 working adults in 34 markets across six continents, “People at Work 2025” features a representative sample of the global workforce to provide regional and market-to-market comparisons of worker sentiment in the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa, and North America.

Respondents come from a wide variety of industries, educational backgrounds, on-site and remote work environments and skill sets. They represent a range of management and individual contributor roles, working for employers of all sizes.

About ADP Research

The mission of ADP Research is to make the future of work more productive through data-driven discovery. Companies, workers, and policymakers rely on our finely tuned data and unique perspective to make informed decisions that impact workplaces around the world.

About ADP (NASDAQ – ADP)

Designing better ways to work through cutting-edge products, premium services and exceptional experiences that enable people to reach their full potential. HR, Talent, Time Management, Benefits and Payroll. Informed by data and designed for people. Learn more at ADP.com.

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ADP Media Contact:

Trisha Koh
Archetype Singapore
adphubap@archetype.co

Ying Wang
PR & Brand Voice Manager, ADP APAC
ying.wang@ADP.com