‘Quiet quitting’ could be hitting the economy – here’s why

A recent analysis suggests that the phenomenon often referred to as “quiet quitting,” where employees limit themselves to fulfilling only the core duties of their roles without going beyond, may be affecting the economy. A report from the Resolution Foundation reveals that over the past ten years, workers in the UK have shown decreasing enthusiasm for their jobs and a diminished willingness to exert extra effort.

This decline in engagement could partially explain why productivity has stalled since the onset of the pandemic, according to the thinktank. Hannah Slaughter, the principal economist at the Resolution Foundation, commented on the implications: “This is self-evidently bad for workers, but it also doesn’t bode well for productivity and labour supply, both of which are vital for lifting living standards in the years ahead.” The term “quiet quitting” gained traction on social media soon after the pandemic, as many employees vented frustrations about high demands, stagnant pay, and shrinking living standards. The movement encourages workers to perform their assigned tasks without taking on additional responsibilities or working beyond scheduled hours, emphasizing a healthier work-life balance and “acting your wage.”

Survey data from 4,656 adults highlights a notable drop in willingness to go above and beyond for employers, decreasing from 69% in 2015 to 55% in 2025. Concurrently, job satisfaction has plummeted, with only one in four workers expressing even moderate satisfaction – a record low. Furthermore, the proportion of employees finding their jobs interesting has fallen from 74% to 63% compared to a decade ago. The report notes, “Workers today are indeed a little less committed to their employers, and a little less intrinsically drawn to work in general, than workers were a decade ago.”

This gradual change in attitudes is believed to have contributed to sluggish productivity growth, which had already slowed following the financial crisis and saw further decline in the pandemic era. The analysis also points out a heightened focus on pay among workers, which aligns with the stagnation of living standards over the past ten years. Sir John Curtice, a politics professor and co-editor of the report, emphasized that this does not suggest an increase in work avoidance among younger people or a widespread reluctance to change jobs. Instead, he remarked, “if workers are to be fully engaged in their work, it has seemingly become more important for employers to provide jobs that are both financially rewarding and have flexible work hours.”