Legion Technologies has released the 2025 State of the North American Hourly Workforce Report, shedding light on growing inefficiencies in how businesses manage hourly workers amid high inflation, supply chain instability, and weakening consumer demand. The report, based on insights from over 1,200 hourly workers and 750 managers, exposes outdated labor practices and highlights AI as a powerful solution to rising labor management challenges.
The Growing Crisis in Hourly Labor Management
1. Outdated Scheduling Practices Are Wasting Time
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59% of managers spend 3+ hours weekly on scheduling tasks.
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39% still use paper-based or basic scheduling tools.
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40% fill shifts through calls and texts — a slow, manual process.
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Only 11% of managers currently use AI-enabled scheduling.
2. AI Can Solve the Productivity Puzzle
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AI tools can automate repetitive tasks and free up management hours.
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84% of managers are interested in calculating employee productivity using tech.
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86% want AI tools that automatically schedule top performers during peak hours.
“AI is a lifeline in a high-cost environment,” said Sanish Mondkar, CEO of Legion Technologies.
“Organizations must adopt smarter tools to optimize every labor hour.”
What Hourly Workers Really Want: Flexibility, Not Just Pay
1. Schedule Flexibility = Productivity
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44% of hourly employees want flexible schedules to work during their most productive times.
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Lack of flexibility and poor benefits are pushing many to leave their current industries.
2. Dissatisfaction Is Driving Turnover
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49% of hourly workers plan to leave their jobs this year.
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Of those, 60% plan to exit their current industry entirely.
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Top reasons include insufficient pay, poor work-life balance, and weak benefits.
3. Rising Demand for Unionization
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27% of hourly workers would prefer union representation to address:
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Low wages
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Poor benefits
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Lack of schedule control
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43% say their employer has done nothing in the past year to improve conditions.
The Manager’s Perspective: Burnout, Security, and Staffing Gaps
1. Economic Pressure is Real
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49% of managers are concerned about their own job security.
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52% cite economic uncertainty as the primary cause of that concern.
2. Turnover and Staffing Shortages are Pain Points
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47% of managers say high turnover and staffing shortages are their biggest challenges.
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There’s a strong interest in tech solutions that can reduce these friction points and optimize shift coverage.
Legion Technologies’ 2025 workforce report paints a clear picture: businesses must adapt or risk falling behind. Outdated labor management processes are slowing teams down at a time when speed and efficiency are critical. AI-enabled tools offer a transformative path forward — giving managers the time and insights to drive productivity while creating a more responsive and satisfying experience for hourly workers.
“You can invest in your people without spending more,” says Mondkar.
“AI is the path to doing more with less while building a resilient workforce.”
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