Across U.S. organizations, employee engagement is leveling off even as leaders heavily invest in pay, perks, and technology. New U.S. data highlight a more powerful and underused driver: purposeful work. When employees can clearly see how their daily efforts support a meaningful mission and help others, their energy, focus, and commitment increase—and so do retention and performance. Recent national studies show that employees who feel a strong sense of purpose at work are much more likely to be engaged and less likely to experience burnout or seek a new job. Meanwhile, only a small fraction of workers say their current roles feel genuinely purposeful. For leaders and managers, the lesson is clear: treat workplace purpose as a system to design and manage, not just a slogan.