Employee engagement remains top issue despite high profile layoffs

Recent prominent layoffs might suggest the balance of power has shifted back to employers. But most CEOs say retaining and engaging staff is still their top priority for 2024, according to a new survey by Chief Executive. 60% of CEOs ranked it number one, even higher than 2 years ago. With skilled talent still scarce, employee focus remains critical.

Improving cost structure ranked second at 56%. Inflation tops the list of challenges at 59%, unchanged from 2022. But employee retention and recruitment still pose major hurdles. This holds across company sizes and nearly all industries.

Tech CEOs diverge, prioritizing market share over engagement. But for most sectors, workers stay vital. Despite some headline-grabbing job cuts, tight labor markets persist. So CEOs can't afford to lose focus on their people. Employee experience remains mission critical.