---
title: SEA Beats the Global Average in Workplace Wellness—But Who’s Struggling?
description: While Southeast Asia outperforms global averages in workplace wellness, the region’s success is unevenly distributed.
image: https://st.depositphotos.com/1995841/61005/i/450/depositphotos_610052412-stock-photo-businessman-stressed-work-scolded-participants.jpg
---

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 May 15, 2025, 11:57:01 PM

# SEA Beats the Global Average in Workplace Wellness—But Who’s Struggling?

![Picture of The Financial Coconut](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Square%20(2)-3.png?width=50&name=Square%20(2)-3.png) [The Financial Coconut](https://www.thefinancialcoconut.com/blog/author/the-financial-coconut)

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According to Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace Report for 2025, Southeast Asia (SEA) stands out globally for its workplace wellness metrics. SEA has surpassed the global average in employee engagement, life evaluation, and stress levels.

However, not all countries in the region share equally in this success. While SEA as a whole performs well, there are significant disparities between nations, with some excelling and others lagging behind.

Here’s a closer look at the data and what it reveals about workplace wellness in the region.

![Stressed Asian Professional Photos - Download Free High-Quality Pictures |  Freepik](https://img.freepik.com/free-photo/medium-shot-woman-working-with-laptop_23-2149410550.jpg?semt=ais_hybrid&w=740)

### **Employee Engagement: A Mixed Picture**

| Metric | Southeast Asia | Global Average |
| --- | --- | --- |
| % Engaged | 26% (↑1pt) | 21% (↓2pt) |
| % Not Engaged | 67% | 62% |
| % Actively Disengaged | 8% | 17% (↑2pt) |

- **SEA Ranks 5th Globally**: The region scores higher than the global average in engagement, with **26% of employees engaged**, compared to the global average of **21%**.
- **Low Disengagement**: SEA has **only 8% actively disengaged workers**, which is **less than half the global average of 17%**.

However, national disparities are stark:

- **Singapore (14%)** and **Vietnam (11%)** have some of the lowest engagement rates in SEA.
- In contrast, **Philippines (38%)**, **Thailand (33%)**, and **Indonesia (27%)** lead the region in engagement.

This divide highlights uneven progress within SEA, with certain countries struggling to foster engaged workforces.

![Distracted walking': Should it be made illegal? - CNA](https://dam.mediacorp.sg/image/upload/s--mabPgrya--/f_auto,q_auto/c_fill,g_auto,h_676,w_1200/people-in-orchard-road_1.jpg?itok=h3uzGTsM)

### **Life Evaluation: Thriving or Just Surviving?**

| Metric | Southeast Asia | Global Average |
| --- | --- | --- |
| % Thriving | 36% (↑3pts) | 33% (↓1pt) |

- **SEA Ranks 5th Globally**: The region’s **36% thriving rate** surpasses the global average of **33%**.
- **Top Performers**: 
    - **Vietnam (56%)** leads SEA, showcasing exceptional well-being among its workforce.
    - **Singapore (42%)** and **Thailand (40%)** also perform well above the regional average.

While SEA outperforms regions like East Asia (34%), South Asia (15%), and MENA (25%), disparities remain.

For instance, Vietnam’s thriving rate is nearly five times higher than that of countries like Myanmar, underscoring uneven well-being across the region.

![Asian business stress Stock Photos, Royalty Free Asian business stress  Images | Depositphotos](https://st.depositphotos.com/1995841/61005/i/450/depositphotos_610052412-stock-photo-businessman-stressed-work-scolded-participants.jpg)

### **Daily Negative Emotions: Lower Stress but Regional Variance**

| Emotion | SEA | Global | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Stress | 25% | 40% | **2nd lowest globally** |
| Anger | 19% | 21% | Tied with global average |
| Sadness | 22% | 23% | Slightly below global average |
| Loneliness | 20% | 22% | Lower than global average |

- **SEA Stands Out**: The region reports **lower stress levels (25%)** compared to the global average of **40%**, ranking **2nd lowest globally** after Post-Soviet Eurasia (21%).
- **Vietnam Leads**: With just **13% reporting stress**, Vietnam records the lowest stress levels in SEA.
- **Myanmar and Philippines Lag**: These countries report **50% and 47% stress levels**, respectively — well above the global average.

This variance reflects differing socio-economic conditions and workplace cultures within SEA, with some countries experiencing significantly more emotional strain than others.

![Singapore 2025 job outlook: Here's who is hiring next year](https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/sg-jobs-2025-1024x538.jpg)

### **Job Climate: Optimism vs Pessimism**

| Metric | SEA | Global |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Good Time to Find Job | 63% (↑8pts) | 51% (↓3pts) |

- **SEA Ranks 2nd Globally**: The region’s **63% optimism** about job prospects exceeds the global average of **51%**, trailing only Australia/New Zealand (72%).
- **Top Optimists**: 
    - **Vietnam (78%)** and **Laos & Philippines (74%)** lead SEA in job market confidence.
- **Pessimistic Outliers**: 
    - **Myanmar (22%)** and **Singapore (47%)** report the lowest optimism, with Singapore falling below the global average.

This optimism reflects SEA’s dynamic economies but masks challenges in countries like Myanmar, where political instability dampens job market sentiment.

### **![Employee Quitting Images – Browse 57,935 Stock Photos, Vectors, and Video | Adobe Stock](https://t4.ftcdn.net/jpg/06/22/58/27/360_F_622582701_Vn7wRUDsf2NBTxUmgutzJjdR2Reh6uvO.jpg)**

### **Intent to Leave: High Turnover Risks**

| Metric | SEA | Global |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Actively Seeking/Watching | 47% | 50% (↓2pts) |

- **SEA Ranks Mid-Range**: The region’s **47% turnover intent** is slightly below the global average of **50%**, indicating moderate job mobility.
- **Highest Intent**: 
    - **Philippines (63%)** and **Myanmar (59%)** show the highest intent to leave jobs, reflecting dissatisfaction or lack of opportunities.
- **Lowest Intent**: 
    - **Vietnam (30%)** and **Malaysia (34%)** report the lowest turnover intent, signaling greater job satisfaction.

High turnover risks in certain countries could pose challenges for employers in retaining talent.

### **![Reformulating ASEAN's Outlook on the Indo-Pacific | East Asia Forum](https://eastasiaforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/ASEAN-scaled.jpg)**

### **Summary: Southeast Asia vs World**

✅ **Higher Engagement**: SEA outperforms the global average in employee engagement and has significantly lower active disengagement.

✅ **Thriving Well-Being**: More people in SEA feel they are “thriving” in life compared to the global average.

✅ **Lower Stress**: The region reports less daily stress and anger, contributing to better overall workplace wellness.

✅ **Optimistic Job Market**: SEA workers are more optimistic about finding jobs than their global counterparts.

⚠️ **Challenges Remain**:

- **Turnover Intent**: High turnover risks in countries like the Philippines and Myanmar could undermine workforce stability.
- **National Disparities**: Countries like Vietnam and Singapore differ sharply in nearly all metrics, highlighting uneven progress.

### **![2025 Investment Outlook – Asia Equities - AP Institutional | Invesco](https://www.invesco.com/content/dam/invesco/apac/en/image/insights/equity/2024/november/2025-investment-outlook-asia-equities/ARTCL-HRO-asia-equities.jpg)**

### **What Does This Mean for SEA?**

While Southeast Asia outperforms global averages in workplace wellness, the region’s success is unevenly distributed.

Countries like Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia excel in engagement, well-being, and job optimism, while others like Myanmar and Singapore face unique challenges.

Addressing these disparities will be critical to ensuring sustained growth and improving workplace wellness across the region.

Employers and policymakers must focus on fostering engagement, reducing stress, and addressing turnover risks, particularly in struggling nations.

By leveraging SEA’s strengths and tackling its weaknesses, the region can continue to lead in workplace wellness while narrowing gaps between its most and least successful countries.

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