EEP US Corporate

Strained, Stressed, and Stepping Away:
The U.S. Supervisor Crisis and What Employers Must Do Now

A new white paper from Express Employment Professionals highlights how burnout, poor training, and culture gaps are fueling a leadership crisis.


July 2025 - The Supervisor Crisis in the US White paper
Companies from coast to coast are experiencing a quiet but consequential crisis: losing middle management.

Retirement, burnout, or—in some cases—force reductions or corporate “flattening” is straining and pushing these critical and stressed supervisors to the door. Junior employees appear less-than-eager to climb the ranks or less-than-capable of filling these roles.

It’s the beginning of a dangerous cycle: strains on supervisors hurt workplace culture; a deteriorating workplace culture makes those jobs less attractive; and the result is a management vacuum that undermines company success.

WHAT EMPLOYERS SAY:

  • 72% of hiring managers admit their companies should be doing more to support supervisors.
  • 86% believe supervisors have the tools they need, but only a third offer training on critical skills like conflict resolution or giving feedback.

WHAT JOB SEEKERS SAY:

  • 55% of supervisors who left or plan to leave their roles cite a lack of fulfillment or advancement.
  • Nearly 3 in 4 Gen Z professionals say they’d rather develop individual expertise than manage people.

Want to Learn More?

Download the White Paper Today!
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