When we talk about “good work,” we often point to pay and benefits. But the 2025 American Job Quality Study (from Gallup, JFF, and Upjohn) says that’s not the whole story.

It found that only 40% of U.S. workers have what they call a “quality job.” The rest? They’re employed—but not thriving.

The study defines job quality through five dimensions, which map very well onto the 7 Dimensions I discovered in the course of the research for my books.

They are:

1. Financial wellbeing
2. Workplace culture & safety
3. Growth & development
4. Agency & voice
5. Work structure & autonomy

Again and again studies like these ask us to go deeper than engagement scores or turnover stats and ask:

• Do our people feel safe and respected?
• Do they have a voice in shaping their work?
• Can they see a real path for growth?

Simple on the surface, but incredibly difficult to meaningfully implement.

The opportunity here isn’t just to fix burnout or turnover—it’s to redesign work so that people can flourish.

Because when we create conditions for human thriving, we don’t just improve lives—we unlock the performance we’ve been chasing all along.

P.S. Imagine if your organization became known not just for what it pays, but for how it feels to work there. That’s job quality—and it’s measurable.