After years of declining employee engagement levels aroundthe world, a new analysis released by Aon Hewitt, the global humanresource solutions business of Aon plc, showed a positive globalshift in employee engagement—or emotional and intellectualinvolvement in the workplace.

Aon Hewitt's 2012 Global Engagement report,which analyzed employee engagement trends of more than 3,100organizations representing 9.7 million employees worldwide, foundthat 58 percent of employees were engaged in 2011, up from 56percent from 2010.

Improvements in employee perception scores occurred inthree key areas in 2011:

1. Effective leadership at the business unit/division level was 61percent, up from 54 percent in 2010
2. People/HR practices creating a positive work environment was 53percent, up from 47 percent in 2010
3. Perceiving relationships with customers as rewarding was 75percent, up from 70 percent in 2010.

The analysis also showed a decline in three keyperception scores in 2011:

1. Effective communication was 42 percent, down from 46 percent in2010
2. Innovation was 52 percent, down from 55 percent in2010
3. Workplace safety and security was 75 percent, down from 78percent in 2010.

Organizations are likely to receive the highest return oninvestment in employee engagement if they improve the followingdrivers:

• Career opportunities: For the fourthconsecutive year, career opportunities remained the top driver topositively impact overall engagement levels
• Recognition: Recognition has a higher impactfor employees in Asia Pacific and Latin America than in otherregions
• Organizational reputation: European and NorthAmerican employees are more concerned about their company'sreputation and what it stands for in the market versusrecognition
• Communication: Effective and engagingcommunication resonates with the employee in rationally,emotionally and behaviorally relevant ways.

To download the report, go to:http://www.Aon.com/globalengagement.