The State of Workplace Communication 2025: Key Statistics and Trends

Effective workplace communication is critical to organizational success. It affects employee productivity and resource increases. Good communication can improve processes, reduce errors, and foster a collaborative work environment. 

By properly accessing some figures and trends, we can understand how current communication practices are shaping the future of work and enhancing organizational effectiveness.

This article will examine recent workplace communication statistics and trends and highlight how businesses adapt their strategies to address emerging challenges.

Key Workplace Communication Statistics (Editor’s Pick)

General Workplace Communication Statistics

1. The employee communication tools market is projected to grow from $1.7 billion in 2023 to $3.8 billion by 2030 at a rapid CAGR of 12.77% between 2024 and 2030. (source)

2. Internal comms teams prioritize culture/belonging (82%) and strategic alignment (86%), while HR-reported teams are more divided, with a higher proportion focusing on managing risk. (source)

3. 74% of surveyed internal communicators say they used engagement surveys in the past 12 months as a channel to collect employee feedback. (source)

4. About 53% of surveyed internal communicators and HR personnel cited “engaging teams around purpose, strategies, and values” as their top priority in internal communication. (source)

5. 44% of leaders believe their staff are entirely on board with company goals. However, only 14% of employees agree. (source)

Importance of Effective Communication in the Workplace

6. Effective communication is the #1 expectation employees have of employers in their organization. However, only 42% of surveyed employees admit that their company communicates well. (source)

7. 32% of U.S. employees say their companies sparsely communicate their strategy updates to the team. These employees say that their companies only send an update once a year. This has made communication and getting information in the workplace difficult. (source) 

8. Only 7% of workers in the U.S. strongly agree that the communication level in their workplace is very accurate, open, and timely. Also, only 26% of employees find their manager’s feedback helpful, and 22% believe leaders have a clear direction. Meanwhile, 80% consider quitting after receiving negative feedback from their manager. (source) 

9. Less than half (46%) of workers believe they receive open and honest communication, but they’re 12 times more likely to be engaged and motivated when they do. (source)

10. Strong communication skills are one of the top requirements for employers when hiring job candidates. About 69% of job recruiters feel more confident hiring business school graduates with the right communication skills. (source) 

11. Additionally, 62% of CCOs focus more on employee communication. 54% also report that employee communication is part of their top five talent investment areas in the coming years. (source) 

12. Workers who feel respected and engaged at work are 87% less likely to leave their company for another. (source)

13. 3 in 4 employees (75%) identify effective communication as a top leadership attribute. (source) 

14. People are 4.6 times more likely to feel empowered when they believe they are being heard. Therefore, encouraging employees to speak up in meetings can significantly enhance their engagement. (source)

15. 66% of knowledge workers and 72% of leaders desire their organizations to invest in tools that would improve communication. This indicates a significant demand across different levels for better resources to facilitate effective communications within the workplace. (source)

16. Most skills-building and communication effectiveness are concentrated at the top levels of organizations. To address the skills gap felt by knowledge workers across companies, it is essential to leverage tools that enhance communication and development at all levels. (source)

17. Effective communication across all channels boosts employee morale and confidence, enhances productivity, and improves customer satisfaction. Conversely, poor communication across these channels hampers productivity, prolongs timelines, and increases costs to reach the finish line. (source)

18. Almost all professionals have seen benefits from better communication, with 58% of knowledge workers reporting increased job satisfaction and improved team relationships. (source)

19. Business leaders are optimistic about investing in modern communication and prioritize operational efficiency (57%), profit margins (55%), and employee retention (54%) to navigate the changing economy. (source) 

20. 80% of business leaders are considering investments in communication, and 82% are also looking to invest in AI-driven tools to enhance employee productivity and effectiveness. (source)

21. Business leaders (90%) are more likely to rate senior leadership communication as effective than knowledge workers (64%), a 26-point gap. (source) 

22. Effective communication has far-reaching benefits, according to business leaders, who report it leads to increased productivity (64%), higher customer satisfaction (51%), improved brand reputation (45%), successful deals (43%), and cost reductions (33%). (source) 

23. For business leaders, effective communication has boosted customer satisfaction by providing timely support (64%), making customers feel heard (64%), offering personalized support (54%), and building trust (53%). (source) 

24. Effective communication has yielded significant benefits in the past year, with knowledge workers experiencing improvements in meeting project deadlines (38%, up by 5%), receiving raises or promotions (24%, up by 4%), and reducing work stress (48%, up by 8%). (source)

25. 93% of business leaders agree that “communication is the backbone of business.” (source) 

26. 96% of business leaders agree that “effective communication is essential for delivering the business results expected of my team in the coming year.” (source) 

27. Even though work is no longer confined to the office, effective communication is still essential 100% of the time to ensure teams stay connected and productive. (source)

28. Most business leaders (98%) and knowledge workers (94%) agree that clear communication with colleagues makes their job easier. (source)

29. 45% of c-suite leaders say effective communication has improved employee engagement. Another 42% say it has improved teamwork and collaboration. Finally, 40% say they have seen higher employee satisfaction scores. (source)

Cost of Poor Communication in the Workplace

30. Business leaders estimate their teams lose an average of 7.47 hours per week to poor communication (almost one full workday). (source) 

31. Of 1 in 5 business leaders (22%) who report lost business due to poor communication, the vast majority (86%) estimate the value of business lost to be $10,000 or higher. (source) 

32. Businesses with at least 100 employees lose around $450,000 annually due to miscommunication. (source) 

33. Most professionals (55%) spend too much time writing or understanding messages, 54% struggle with managing multiple work communications, and 53% worry about misinterpreting written messages, leading to anxiety. (source) 

34. Poor communication has led to a decline in confidence among knowledge workers, with 31% now reporting a lack of confidence in 2024, up from 20% just two years ago. (source) 

35. 59% of workers say they experience miscommunication in written form at least weekly. (source)

36. Poor communication has cost business leaders deals, with 1 in 5 experiencing losses. However, effective communication has brought in new business, with 43% of leaders reporting gains in 2024, a 10% increase from last year. (source) 

37. Over half (51%) of knowledge workers report experiencing increased stress due to poor communication. (source)

38. Almost 90% of business leaders have seen firsthand the harmful effects of poor communication at work, which include increased costs (45%), delayed projects or extended resolution times (39%), and damage to their company’s reputation or brand (34%). (source) 

39. Knowledge workers cited increased stress as the top impact of poor communication at work. (source) 

40. 36% of people have dealt with lost or missing files due to communication problems in their business. (source) 

41. Poor communication is the root cause of 70% of company mistakes, resulting in significant losses. A survey of 400 corporations estimated that communication barriers lead to a staggering $37 billion annual loss in productivity. (source)

42. Almost 90% of business leaders have suffered the consequences of poor communication, including increased costs (45%), delayed projects or extended resolution times (39%), and damage to their brand’s reputation (34%). (source) 

43. The cost of poor workplace communication in the U.S. has hit over $1.2 trillion and will continue to cost more if nothing is done. (source) 

44. 63.3% of more than 600 organizations surveyed say retaining employees is harder than hiring them. This is mostly due to poor communication in the workplace. (source) 

45. Ineffective communication hurts productivity (49%), job satisfaction (50%), and increases stress (42%), with only 11% of workers unaffected. (source)

46. Poor communication erodes trust in leadership (54% remote, 43% on-site) and teams (52% remote, 38% on-site). (source) 

47. Poor internal communications strategy causes 55% of employees to spend more time at work than necessary. (source) 

48. Employees who rate their company’s communication strategies as poor are 5x more likely to rate their companies poor on collaboration and productivity. (source) 

49. 68% of surveyed workers agree they have personally wasted important time due to poor communication in their company. (source) 

50. Employees dissatisfied with their company’s communication are four times more likely to express dissatisfaction with their compliance efforts. Moreover, they are five times more likely to express dissatisfaction with both the company’s collaboration and productivity. (source)

51. 55% of employees spend up to two hours daily seeking clarification on essential work details, resulting in significant productivity losses. (source)

Workplace Communication Preferences

52. Most working professionals use phone and video calls, messaging apps, and collaboration tools daily. Specifically, 94% make/receive phone calls, 87.5% use video calls (with 55% doing so daily), 70% use messenger services like WhatsApp and Skype daily, and 60% use collaboration tools like Microsoft Teams and Slack. (source) 

53. A March 2023 US survey found that on-site office workers prefer in-person conversations (34%), while remote workers prefer email (25%). Hybrid workers also prefer email, followed by direct messaging and audio calls. (source) 

54. On-site workers (38%) prefer mobile phones for communication, followed by landlines (22%) and Zoom (21%). Remote workers are divided between Zoom (22%) and Google Chat (22%) as their top choice. Hybrid workers also favor Zoom (31%) and Google Meet (23%) as their most effective communication tools. (source) Communication Preferences

55. Millennial knowledge workers prefer written communication more than other knowledge workers, with 64% using it most of the time. They also prefer virtual video meetings (48%), text-based chat (36%), and project or sales management software more than other knowledge workers, with a 7-9% higher preference. (source) 

56. Knowledge workers are confident in their own communication skills, rating their own written (73%) and verbal (68%) abilities highly, but are skeptical of others’, rating others’ written (62%) and verbal (63%) communication as less effective. Business leaders are even more self-assured, rating their own written (85%) and verbal (88%) skills higher and also perceiving others’ communication as more effective (written 85%, verbal 83%). (source) 

57. The most popular communication tools are Email (18%, with 25% of remote workers and 10% of on-site workers), Video calls (17%), and Direct messages (16%). However, on-site workers (34%) prefer in-person conversations over digital tools. Remote workers tend to prefer digital tools, with email being the most popular. (source) 

58. Age also influences communication method preferences. Among respondents aged 59 to 77, 40% preferred in-person conversations, whereas only 17% of those aged 18 to 26 and 16% of those aged 27 to 42 preferred in-person communication. (source) 

59. More than half (56%) of surveyed U.S. workers use video for communication, while 55% use audio. Personalized greetings are used by 44%, and emojis and GIFs are also common, with 42% and 34% respectively. (source) 

60. Over 90% of business employees prefer weekly communication from their organization. And about 29% of workers say they prefer daily communication. (source) 

61. Millennials have the largest influence on workplace communication. They represent about 50% of the global workforce. This is expected to increase to 75% by 2025. (source)

62. Most working professionals use phone and video calls to communicate, with 94% making and receiving calls and 87.5% using video calls. Daily usage is high, with 55% using video calls and 70% using messenger services like WhatsApp and Skype. Collaboration tools like Microsoft Teams and Slack are also popular and are used by 60% of professionals. (source)

63. Over 75% of employees are likelier to watch a video than read a text or an email. (source)

64. Employees’ primary communication methods are email (31%), online chat tools like Slack (30%), project management tools (15%), phone (7%), and in-person (7%). A further 10% use other tools like Notion, WhatsApp, Zoom, or Google Meet. (source) 

65. Workers prefer communication platforms that offer a variety of tools, such as instant messaging, video calls, and VoIP systems. For video calls, Google Meet and Zoom are the most popular, used by 40% and 46% of workers, respectively. (source) 

66. Communication tool preferences vary by work arrangement: on-site workers prefer mobile phones (38%), while remote workers prefer Zoom and Google Chat equally (22%). Hybrid workers prefer Zoom (31%) and Google Meet (23%). (source) 

67. About 90% of employees want communication/feedback from their leaders at least once a week. This helps employees stay motivated and more focused on their tasks and the company’s vision. (source) 

68. Employees want one-on-one meetings with managers weekly. (source)

69. About 80% of workers want to stay updated on company news. The company can only achieve this through effective internal communications. (source) 

70. Employees want their leaders to improve in the following ways:

Digital Communication Habits in the Workplace

71. Most full-time workers in the US and UK use digital communication daily, with 89% using email, 66% using instant messages, 64% using text messages, and 10% using recorded video messages. (source)

72. A 2022 survey of full-time workers in the US and UK found that respondents received an average of 32 emails, 20 instant/messages, 12 phone calls, and 13 text messages per day. (source) 

73. Knowledge workers spend a significant portion of their workweek, approximately 19.93 hours (or half of a 40-hour workweek), on written communication, which includes writing messages to others (4.34 hours), responding to messages from others (4.05 hours), and creating shareable materials (3.27 hours). (source) 

74. Knowledge workers spend the most time on email, then virtual video meetings, and finally text-based chat. In total, they spend more than 26 hours weekly on communication channels. However, business leaders spend over 36 hours per week on communication, mainly using virtual meetings, in-person meetings, and project or sales management software, with each taking up around 5-6 hours of their time. (source) 

75. 61% of knowledge workers prefer real-time communication, and 55% communicate synchronously most of the time. (source) 

76. Workers spend significant time on digital communication platforms, with 16% spending 21-25 hours per week, averaging around 5 hours daily. The time spent on digital communication tools decreases significantly beyond 30 hours, with only 5% spending 31-35 hours and 2% exceeding 40 hours per week. (source)

77. Most professionals agree that over the past twelve months, there has been an increase in the frequency (78%) and variety (73%) of channels used for workplace communication. (source)

78. Knowledge workers spend 88% of their workweek communicating through various channels. Despite advancements, the surge in communication is contributing to higher overall workloads. (source) 

79. 89% of business leaders actively use generative AI for professional purposes, while only 53% of knowledge workers do. Among all professionals using generative AI, 72% use it for writing tasks, highlighting the significant role of writing in business communication. (source) 

80. 78% of professionals say work communication has increased in the past year, resulting in knowledge workers spending 88% of their workweek on communication. (source)

81. Some professionals spend more time communicating than the standard workweek of 40 hours: HR (47 hours), hybrid workers (42 hours), and large teams (42 hours). (source)

82. Millennials (40 hours/week) and Gen Z (38 hours/week) spend more time on communication than Gen X (30 hours/week) and baby boomers (25 hours/week), with younger knowledge workers dedicating more time to communication. (source)

83. Knowledge workers spend an average of 19 hours per week (nearly half their workweek) on written communication, with about half of that time spent writing or responding to emails and messages from others. (source) 

84. Knowledge workers report spending approximately half of a typical work week—20 hours—on written communication. (source) 

85. 82% of workers say they spent more time on video calls/meetings than in previous years. (source) 

86. 56% of Chief Communications Officers (CCOs) report increasing their use of communications technology. (source) 

87. To improve employee communication, the time spent on communication tools — calls and emails — has increased by 20-50% in the last 20 years. (source)

88. Although over 269 billion emails are sent daily (worldwide), busy workers only open 24% of these emails. (source) 

89. In the past year (2022), nearly three-quarters (74%) of businesses have adopted a new tool for project organization, communication, and management. (source) 

90. A significant portion of workers spend a substantial amount of time on digital communication platforms, with:

Workplace Communication and Productivity

91. Using generative AI for communication saves professionals an average of one day per week, translating to an annual productivity gain of $16,455 per worker and a potential national gain of $1.6 trillion. (source) 

92. 69% of workers say they will work harder if they receive positive employee feedback. Employees are more likely to increase their productivity if they feel appreciated by their bosses. (source)

93. 61% of employees say they get adequate information about what is happening in their company. (source) 

94. Companies hold an average of 61 meetings monthly, but 39% of attendees tune out and sleep, while 73% multitask and do other work during these meetings. (source) 

95. 77% of those using project management tools to report improved internal communication within the company. (source)  

96. 60% of employees feel that they waste time in company meetings. Therefore, they are not fully engaged in these meetings. (source) 

97. Nearly half of employees who feel unaligned (49%) or unmotivated (44%) plan to leave their jobs within two years, highlighting the importance of engagement and alignment in retaining talent. (source)

98. Only 6% of communication leaders believe they can manage employee change fatigue. This is a shallow score compared to communication leaders’ critical organizational roles. (source) 

99. Brands using project management tools for communication are more likely to rate their business communication as “excellent” or “above average” (67%) compared to those who don’t (38%). (source) 

Workplace Communication and Burnout

100. 53% of people have experienced burnout, stress, and fatigue due to communication breakdowns in their business. (source) 

101. Employees primarily using project management tools to communicate with clients and coworkers are 27% less likely to experience burnout, stress, and fatigue. (source) 

102. Many workers feel pressured to stay connected to coworkers outside of work hours. 25% of workers indicate they always feel pressured. 35% say they often feel pressured. However, 7% and 10% indicate that they rarely or never feel pressured. (source) 

103. Digital communication can lead to burnout, with 60% of workers experiencing increased burnout. 70% of remote workers say digital communication leads them to burnout. 56% of hybrid workers say they experience burnout, and 49% of on-site workers experience burnout. (source) 

104. Unanswered messages lead to workplace stress for nearly half (46%) of workers. Also, the manager’s “typing” notification stresses 45% of workers. (source) 

105. 60% of surveyed U.S. workers reported that digital communication led to increased feelings of burnout. Nearly 70% of remote workers experienced burnout due to digital communication, while hybrid and on-site workers reported lower rates of burnout, at 56% and 49%, respectively. (source)

106. Digital communication stressors in the workplace include: 

• seeing messages ignored for long periods (46%), 
• seeing a manager typing a message (45%), 
• crafting responses with the right tone (42%), 
• deciphering the tone behind messages (38%), 
• last-minute video calls from leadership (36%), and 
• turning off cameras during video calls (35%). 

These aspects of digital communication cause significant stress for many respondents. (source) 

107. During the pandemic, about 40% of employees reported that their companies didn’t check up on them or care for their well-being. This feeling of neglect can reduce employees’ morale to work, thus leading to low employee engagement and productivity. (source) 

Remote Work and Communication

108. The majority of business leaders (82%) and more than half of knowledge workers (59%) agree, “I am concerned about effective communication with remote or hybrid working models in the future.” (source)

109. With 58% of the workforce now working from home, translating to 92 million workers, digital communication has become central to workplace productivity and interactions. (source) 

110. In a recent survey, two-thirds of employees in white-collar jobs (67%) reported working from home either exclusively (41%) or part-time (26%). (source) 

111. Compared to the high rate of remote work in white-collar professions, it is much less common among roles that typically require in-person interactions. For instance, 48% of workers in education and 35% in healthcare work remotely. (source) 

112. Overall, 54% of employees who work remotely part-time prefer a hybrid arrangement, balancing time between home and the office. Just over a third (37%) would like to work from home exclusively, while 9% wish to return to the office full-time. (source) 

113. The Covid-19 pandemic changed office communication but didn’t necessarily make workers feel less connected. In fact, 45% of workers felt more connected to their team, with remote (52%) and hybrid (46%) workers leading the way. However, some workers (25%) did feel less connected, especially remote workers (34%). On-site workers were the most likely to report no change (28%). (source)

114. Most business leaders (82%) and knowledge workers (59%) share concerns about effective communication with remote or hybrid working models in the future. (source)

Workplace Communication Challenges

115. Most (72%) of business leaders admit that their teams have had difficulty communicating effectively in the past year. (source) 

116. 86% of knowledge workers report experiencing communication issues at work. The top challenges include not receiving timely responses (49%), ensuring messages are clearly understood (37%), and comprehending received messages (33%). (source)

117. Business leaders (72%) are more likely to recognize communication challenges with external parties than knowledge workers (45%), with nearly three-fourths of leaders acknowledging that their teams struggle to communicate clearly and consistently. (source) 

118. Three in ten people (30%) say communicating with clients and colleagues has become more difficult over the past year. Also, 75% have introduced a new tool to improve their business communication in the past year, seeking to overcome emerging challenges. (source) 

119. 44% of employees feel leaders avoid tough conversations, but only 20% of leaders agree. (source) 

120. Up to 86% of surveyed workers say they experience communication issues, even though they spend half of their workweek communicating. (source) 

121. According to 37% of surveyed respondents, employee disengagement is the biggest challenge in internal communication. (source) 

122. Only 18% of internal communicators spend more than half of their working time improving communication. (source) 

123. Almost 6 out of 10 top leaders (59%) find it hard to change how they communicate to meet the needs of growing teams and remote work. 42% say allocating time to create important communications is challenging for them. (source)

124. In 2024, 85% of leaders think internal communications are helpful and relevant. Only 45% of employees agree. Likewise, 83% of leaders think their internal communications are clear and engaging, but only 47% of employees agree.  (source)

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Latest Workplace Communication Trends in 2025

1. AI-Infused Communication

AI has constantly been transforming workplace communication using several tools and even strategies. For example, AI tools now help manage emails by sorting and prioritizing them and even drafting responses to save time. 

AI tools also help with meeting scheduling. Meeting scheduling is much easier with AI assistants because they find suitable times and automatically set up virtual meetings. 

Real-time language translation tools break down language barriers during meetings and written communication, making collaboration smoother. Lastly, AI chatbots handle common customer support questions, freeing up employees for more complex issues. 

AI enhances personalized communication by tailoring messages based on individual preferences. Additionally, AI helps create content, ensuring messages are clear and well-organized. Overall, AI is making workplace interactions more efficient and effective.

2. Asynchronous Communication

Asynchronous communication has become a key trend in the workplace, especially in 2025. This approach allows team members to communicate and collaborate without being online simultaneously. 

Tools like email, messaging apps, and project management platforms support this style and let people respond at convenient times. It also helps to accommodate different time zones and schedules, making collaboration easier for global teams. 

Asynchronous communication reduces the need for constant meetings and interruptions, allowing employees to focus better on their tasks and manage their time more effectively. Overall, it fosters a more flexible and efficient work environment.

3. Analytical Communication Strategies

Analytical communication strategies are making a significant impact in the workplace today. These strategies involve using data to determine how employees communicate and what they should also communicate about.  

Different teams can refine and modify their communication methods by analyzing engagement rates and feedback metrics to achieve better results. 

Also, some tools used to collect data can provide insights into which messages are effective and which are not. This allows for more targeted and impactful communication strategies. This trend helps organizations proactively enhance clarity, address communication challenges, and make more informed decisions.

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