A Strong Start to 2025: Employee Satisfaction Gets a Boost in Q1

In Q1 2025, the latest eNPS (Employee Net Promoter Score) data from BambooHR presents a promising trend: an increase in employee satisfaction, bringing scores back to levels last seen in Q1 2024. This positive shift is noteworthy as it marks a return to typical Q1 highs, often associated with the fresh start of a new year and renewed energy among employees. A separate BambooHR report also found that the majority (84%) of employees are satisfied with their jobs, with 54% refraining from applying to any jobs at all in 2024.

The average eNPS for Q1 2025 was 37, reflecting a two-point increase from Q4 2024. This report explores the industries and factors contributing to this encouraging rise, offering insights and strategies for HR professionals and organizations to sustain and build on this momentum.

The start of 2025 brought an increase in employee happiness, echoing the trend from Q1 2024.

However, this quarter brought a fresh twist: since the start of the year, new employees have surpassed their more seasoned colleagues in happiness. Regarding company size, we see a familiar pattern: happiness decreases as company size increases.

In this employee satisfaction survey report from BambooHR, based on eNPS data from over 61,100 employees and over 1,700 companies across various industries, we dive into the latest trends regarding employee happiness, aiming to provide insights that help create a thriving and engaging workplace.

What’s Employee Net Promoter Score (eNPS)?

eNPS helps employers measure employee satisfaction. It consists of a numeric rating of how likely employees are to recommend the organization as a place to work. Employees select a score from 0–10, and these scores, categorized as Promoters (9 or 10), Passives (8), and Detractors (7 or below), are used to quantify how employees feel about their company.

The eNPS score is then calculated by taking the percentage of Promoters and subtracting the percentage of Detractors. The resulting score can range from -100 to +100, with higher eNPS scores indicating a higher level of employee satisfaction and loyalty. What is a good eNPS score?

• Above 0 is good.
• Above 20 is favorable.
• Above 50 is excellent.
• Above 80 is world class.

*Net Promoter, NPS, and the NPS-related emoticons are registered U.S. trademarks, and NetPromoter Score and Net Promoter System are service marks, of Bain & Company, Inc., NICE Systems, Inc. and Fred Reichheld.

Key takeaways by employee group

Employee Tenure:.Newer employees (<3 years tenure) are 6% happier than long-tenured staff (≥3 years).

Company Headcount: Small and large companies see a slight boost in Q1.

Key Takeaways by Industry

Construction: Continued highest happiness streak for 22nd consecutive month.

Travel & Hospitality: Started the year strong with a significant bump from Q4.

Finance: Saw slight recovery from the low of Q3/Q4 2024.

Healthcare: Saw the lowest Q1 eNPS of the last 4 years.

Education: The only industry to decrease in satisfaction from Q4.

Technology: Saw the lowest Q1 eNPS of the last 5 years.

Nonprofit: Saw a Q1 spike to start the year.

Restaurant, Food & Beverage: eNPS stayed the same from Q4 to Q1.

In a notable shift from recent quarters, new employees took the lead in happiness levels since the start of the year. Fresh-faced employees—those with fewer than three years of tenure—were 6% happier than their more seasoned counterparts in Q1 2025.

This trend is further underscored by the eNPS for newer employees, which reached an impressive 38 in March 2025—the highest since April 2023.

This shift suggests that newer employees are finding their footing and feeling more engaged and satisfied in their roles. Several factors could be contributing to this trend, such as a stronger emphasis on onboarding and integration processes to ensure new hires feel welcomed and supported from day one. Additionally, many new employees are likely recent graduates who are facing a tough job market and may feel satisfied to have any job at all.

For organizations, this data highlights the importance of maintaining robust support systems for new employees while also considering strategies to re-engage tenured staff. By balancing the needs of both groups, companies can create a more cohesive and motivated workforce.

In Q1 2025, a common trend emerged: eNPS scores generally decreased as company size increased. The smallest companies, with 1–24 employees, consistently achieved the highest average eNPS of 50, suggesting that smaller teams may foster a more positive environment for employee engagement. Throughout January, February, and March, this group maintained its lead, reinforcing the idea that smaller organizations excel in creating a positive employee experience.

Conversely, the largest companies (with 501+ employees) reported the lowest average eNPS at 32. This consistent trend across the quarter highlights potential challenges in maintaining high levels of engagement in very large organizations, possibly due to complex structures, less personalized experiences, or broader communication challenges. However, these large organizations did experience a 1-point increase from Q4 of last year, so they did see some improvement in employee satisfaction.

Mid-sized companies, particularly those in the 25–75 and 301–500 employee ranges, showed moderate engagement levels, with eNPS scores falling between the extremes of the smallest and largest companies.

Overall, eNPS scores remained relatively stable across Q1 2025 for most employee headcount ranges, indicating a consistent level of employee sentiment during this period.

While nearly every industry saw an increase in employee satisfaction in Q1, as we typically expect at the start of the year, the education industry stands out as the only one to decrease from Q4 2024, marking the lowest Q1 happiness since 2020.

Similarly, the restaurant, food, and beverage industry continued to face lower employee satisfaction, ranking last of all industries in terms of eNPS. This sector is struggling to recover from the steady decrease observed throughout 2024.

In contrast, the construction industry continued to demonstrate exceptionally high eNPS scores, maintaining its leading position and showcasing its strong employee satisfaction. Meanwhile, the travel and hospitality sector showed a notable recovery and improvement in eNPS during Q1 2025, bouncing back from previous challenges and indicating a positive trend in employee engagement.

On a more stable note, the technology and finance industries maintained relatively consistent eNPS scores, reflecting a level of stability in employee satisfaction. These sectors have managed to hold steady, despite the broader fluctuations seen across other industries.

Below, we’ll dive deeper into the trends of each industry.

• eNPS increased from Q4 to Q1, with an average of 51.
• There was a 1-point increase from Q4 to Q1.
• Compared to March last year, eNPS is 2 points lower, a 2% decrease.

The construction industry is approaching two years of having the highest eNPS of all industries (22 consecutive months in March 2025). In addition, they saw a slight increase from Q4 2024 to Q1 2025, a bump seen by most other industries in the first quarter of the year. However, employee satisfaction in March 2025 was slightly lower than its peak in March 2024.

• eNPS increased from Q4 to Q1, with an average of 39.
• There was a 4-point increase from Q4 to Q1.
• Compared to March last year, eNPS is 1 point higher, a 3% increase.

The travel and hospitality industry started the year on a high note in Q1, with an eNPS of 39. This 4-point increase from Q4 to Q1 represents a significant 10% improvement, indicating growing employee satisfaction. Additionally, the 1-point increase compared to March last year highlights a positive trend, suggesting that the industry is making strides in enhancing employee engagement and satisfaction.

• eNPS increased from Q4 to Q1, with an average of 35.
• There was a 1-point increase from Q4 to Q1.
• Compared to March last year, eNPS is 1 point higher, a 3% increase.

The finance industry experienced a typical increase in employee satisfaction in Q1, with an eNPS of 35. This 1-point increase from Q4 to Q1 marks a 3% improvement, indicating a slight recovery from the dip observed in Q3 and Q4 of 2024. Additionally, the 1-point increase compared to March last year suggests a positive trend, showing that the industry is gradually improving employee happiness.

• eNPS increased from Q4 to Q1, with an average of 34.
• There was a 1-point increase from Q4 to Q1.
• Compared to March last year, eNPS has had no movement.

The healthcare industry saw a 4% increase in employee satisfaction in Q1, with an eNPS of 34. This 1-point rise from Q4 to Q1 indicates a partial recovery from the 2-point drop in Q4. However, compared to March of last year, there has been no movement in eNPS, and while January and February of this year started out strong, there was a dip in March. There has been some recovery for this industry, but organizations need to focus on strategies to drive further improvements in employee satisfaction.

• eNPS decreased from Q4 to Q1, with an average of 34.
• There was a 2-point decrease from Q4 to Q1.
• Compared to March last year, eNPS is 4 points lower, an 11% decrease.

The education industry typically experiences a high point in Q1, but this year started off on a low note with an eNPS of 34, marking the lowest Q1 happiness since 2020. The 2-point decrease from Q4 to Q1 represents a 4% decrease, and the 4-point drop compared to March of last year is an 11% decrease. The data suggests that the industry is facing challenges in maintaining employee satisfaction, highlighting the need for targeted efforts to improve morale and engagement

• eNPS increased from Q4 to Q1, with an average of 34.
• There was a 1-point increase from Q4 to Q1.
• Compared to March last year, eNPS is 1 point lower, a 3% decrease.

The tech industry saw a slight improvement in employee satisfaction in Q1, with an eNPS of 34, marking a 2% increase from Q4. However, the entirety of 2024 remained consistent without recovering from the fall in 2023, making this quarter the lowest eNPS start in the last five years. The 3% decrease from March of last year suggests ongoing challenges in employee satisfaction.

• eNPS increased from Q4 to Q1, with an average of 34.
• There was a 3-point increase from Q4 to Q1.
• Compared to March last year, eNPS has decreased marginally, a 2% decrease.

The nonprofit industry experienced a recovery in Q1, with an eNPS of 34, marking a 10% increase from Q4. Despite this improvement from Q4's five-year low, the increase was not sufficient to return to the previous year's Q1 peaks. Compared to March of last year, the eNPS decreased marginally (2%). This suggests that while there has been progress, further efforts are needed to regain and surpass past levels of employee satisfaction

• eNPS remained consistent from Q4 to Q1, with an average of 31.
• There was no change from Q4 to Q1.
• Compared to March last year, eNPS is 3 points lower, a 12% decrease.

The restaurant, food, and beverage industry saw consistent employee satisfaction in Q1, with an eNPS of 31, unchanged from Q4. However, compared to March of last year, the eNPS is 3 points lower, a 12% decrease. This indicates that the industry has not yet recovered from the steady decrease experienced throughout 2024, highlighting the need for strategies to improve employee engagement and satisfaction.

HR professionals can use their understanding of these trends to improve employee satisfaction and drive organizational success. Here are six key takeaways from Q1’s report:

• Address the needs of tenured employees: While new employees are happier, tenured staff may feel overlooked. Consider re-engagement strategies such as career development opportunities, regular feedback sessions, and recognition programs to boost their morale and satisfaction.
• Regularly collect and act on employee feedback: Use tools like eNPS surveys to regularly collect and act on employee feedback. This can help identify areas for improvement and ensure that employees feel heard and valued.
• Monitor and adapt to economic conditions: Stay agile and adapt your strategies to changing economic conditions. Regularly assess the impact of economic factors on your workforce and make necessary adjustments to support your employees.
• Enhance onboarding and integration: With new employees happier than their tenured counterparts, focus on creating a welcoming and supportive onboarding process to maintain the momentum of this positive trend and boost initial engagement, setting employees up for success.
• Pay attention to seasonal and external influences: Organizations, particularly those in sectors sensitive to seasonality (like travel and hospitality), should anticipate potential fluctuations in employee sentiment and proactively plan engagement activities or support measures accordingly.
• Benchmark eNPS for strategic insights: Use eNPS benchmarking to gain a competitive edge by comparing your scores against industry standards. This can help identify areas where your organization excels and where it lags. For instance, if your eNPS is lower than the industry average, delve into specific factors contributing to this gap and develop targeted strategies to address them.

By carefully analyzing eNPS data and understanding the underlying trends and drivers, companies can make informed decisions and implement targeted strategies to cultivate a more engaged, satisfied, and ultimately more productive workforce.

About BambooHR

BambooHR^® is the leading HR software solution that sets people free to do great work, by managing the complex work of supporting employees and succeeding as a business, while giving leaders all the data they need to make informed strategic decisions.

Intuitively designed and easy-to-use benefits administration, payroll, performance, time tracking, and reporting where everything works together means less focus on process and more focus on growing what matters most—people.

Over the past 15 years, BambooHR has been the trusted partner of HR professionals at 33 thousand companies with employees in over 190 countries and 50 industries, supporting millions of users throughout their employee experience.

Methodology

All source data is from BambooHR^® Employee Satisfaction, gathered between January 2020 and March 2025, and includes more than 1,700 companies, tracking anonymized responses from over 61,100 unique employees since January 2020. Data analyzed includes more than 2.55 million self-reported eNPS scores. The most recent quarter’s data is added to the historical data set on the first day of the new quarter.

Industries included are healthcare, finance, construction, travel and hospitality, nonprofit, restaurant, food, and beverage, education, and technology.

Further demographics included are company region, company headcount, and average employee tenure at a company.