According to new data from Gallup, the percentage of U.S. employees who say they are actively disengaged from their job is 18% in 2022, up from 13% in 2019. The findings are sure to add fuel to the fiery controversy over "quiet quitting," a concept that has generated much discussion among employers and employees alike. With only 32% of employees saying they are "engaged," Gallup says that quiet quitters could make up more than 50% of workers in the U.S.

However, even as it notes increased disengagement, Gallup's findings raise questions about the quiet quitting concept. The polling and analysis company titled its article on the findings: "Is Quiet Quitting Real?" and notes two other important issues — workplace dissatisfaction among younger workers, and the role of management in that dissatisfaction.

Gallup's findings — a real problem among younger workers

The new analysis by Gallup finds that the problem of quiet quitting is most applicable among young workers. The company's polling finds that the percentage of engaged employees under the age of 35 dropped by six percentage points from 2019 to 2022, while at the same time, the percentage of actively disengaged employees in that age cohort increased by six points.