A new report reveals that most workers feel their skills are going to waste in their current jobs, raising concerns about employee satisfaction and career growth. The Untapped Talent Report by Resume Now, based on a survey of 1,018 workers, found that 69% of employees believe their abilities are not fully used at work. This issue is affecting how people feel about their jobs and their chances to move forward in their careers.
The report also highlights a global drop in employee engagement. According to Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace: 2025 Report, engagement fell from 23% in 2023 to 21% in 2024. This decline has cost the world economy around $438 billion due to lost productivity. People who find true meaning in their work are much more engaged—about 5.6 times more likely to stay motivated and less likely to look for a new job.
Looking closer at daily work, 87% of employees say their tasks are only somewhat challenging or less. A small but notable 5% feel no challenge at all and often feel bored. Only 13% find their work truly demanding. This lack of challenge has led 13% of workers to feel very underwhelmed and disconnected from their jobs all the time.
Recognition doesn’t seem to fix the problem either. While many workers say their strengths are noticed, just 9% report that their unique skills actually shape the projects they work on. A majority, 62%, feel their talents are acknowledged but don’t play a big role in their daily work. Role mismatches are common, too, with only 24% saying their jobs perfectly fit their abilities, while 36% believe their employers don’t recognize their skills much at all.
This underuse of talent is causing people to consider leaving their jobs. About 72% of those surveyed said they would look for a new position if things don’t improve. More than two-thirds, 67%, might quit within the next year, including 17% who would leave in just three months. Career growth is also suffering, as 77% say their progress has slowed down because they aren’t challenged enough.
Leadership seems to be missing the mark on this issue. Eighty percent of workers feel that management either doesn’t see this problem or sees it but doesn’t do much about it. Only 21% believe their leaders recognize underuse and act fast, while 38% say their managers don’t notice the problem at all.
The survey included people of different ages and backgrounds, with about 58% women and 41% men participating. The findings point to a widespread problem that could hurt businesses if ignored. Companies may need to rethink how they use and motivate their workforce to keep employees happy and growing.