By the numbers
Communications measurement, by the numbers
Last updated: November 2026
The clearest number in communications measurement is the gap: just 30% of teams connect communications data to business outcomes, according to Beehive PR.
Beltway Media collected the published statistics below for readers of this site. Each figure is stated as its source published it, with a link. None are Beltway Media's own results. Read them alongside our communications measurement guide.
How many organizations actually measure communications outcomes?
A minority. Beehive PR reports that just 30% connect communications data to business outcomes, and Workvivo's 2026 benchmarks show that while 92% of internal teams are accountable for engagement scores, only 71% actively monitor that metric.
The statistics
30%
Just 30% connect communications data to business outcomes.
Source: From Volume to Value, Beehive PR
93%
of internal communications teams are now explicitly accountable for ensuring employees understand the company strategy.
Source: Internal Communications Benchmarks for 2026, Workvivo
92% / 71%
92% are accountable for engagement scores, though only 71% actively monitor this metric.
Source: Internal Communications Benchmarks for 2026, Workvivo
53% / 15%
53% of teams have a dedicated budget, while 15% rely on ad hoc funding, applying for money only when a specific need arises.
Source: Internal Communications Benchmarks for 2026, Workvivo
$9,284 to $30,000+
In 2026, the cost of poor workplace communication has been estimated at anywhere between $9,284 and well over $30,000 per employee per year.
$2 trillion+
US businesses are collectively losing well over $2 trillion due to ineffective communication.
86%
Past reports have shown that 86% of employees and executives cite the lack of effective collaboration and communication as the main causes of workplace failures.
79%
of employees said the quality of communication they get from leaders affects how well they understand organizational goals.
76%
In one campaign, 76% of articles delivered a key message. Reach to black and minority ethnic groups increased from 67% to 74%, and social media engagement increased by 96% compared to previous years.
90%
The AMEC guide notes that 90 percent of all human data has been created in the last two years, as cited at the time it was written.
Estimate the cost of poor communication for your headcount
This worksheet multiplies your number of employees by Pumble's published range of $9,284 to well over $30,000 per employee per year. It is a rough, illustrative estimate.
Common questions
- Why does communications measurement matter?
- It shows leaders whether communications are producing results and where to adjust. Beehive PR, in its article "From Volume to Value," reports that just 30% of teams connect communications data to business outcomes, which leaves most programs judged on volume alone. Measurement closes that gap by tying messages to decisions such as purchases, sign-ups, policy support or employee understanding.
- How much does poor workplace communication cost?
- Pumble's Workplace Communication Statistics for 2026 estimate the cost at anywhere between $9,284 and well over $30,000 per employee per year, and say US businesses are collectively losing well over $2 trillion due to ineffective communication. These are published estimates, not Beltway Media figures, and the cost in any one organization will vary.
- Do internal communications teams have a budget for measurement?
- Many do. Workvivo's 2026 benchmarks report that 53% of internal communications teams have a dedicated budget, allowing for long-term planning, while 15% rely on ad hoc funding, applying for money only when a specific need arises. A dedicated budget makes consistent year over year measurement much easier to sustain.
- Why can't we connect communications to business results?
- Usually because objectives were not tied to outcomes at the planning stage, data sits in separate systems or there is no baseline. Beehive PR reports that just 30% of teams connect communications data to business outcomes. Fixes include agreeing on outcome KPIs with leadership, tagging links consistently and surveying audiences before and after a campaign.
- Which internal communication metrics actually matter?
- The metrics that matter most measure understanding and action: whether employees can explain the strategy, whether they know what to do differently and whether behavior changed. Reach and open rates are supporting indicators. Workvivo's 2026 benchmarks found 92% of teams are accountable for engagement scores, yet only 71% actively monitor that metric.