Global workplace stress statistics

Workplace stress remains a global challenge, affecting the majority of workers in developed countries, with 6 out of 10 experiencing stress on the job. In China, a staggering 86% of employees report feeling workplace stress, the highest rate globally. Although daily stress levels have slightly declined from their pandemic-era peak, they remain higher than before 2020, with 41% of workers still feeling significant stress daily. Burnout continues to be a critical issue, with 25% of employees reporting its effects and online searches for "signs of burnout" surging during the pandemic. Employee engagement is alarmingly low, with only 23% feeling engaged at work in 2023, while remote workers face added challenges of loneliness, affecting a quarter of fully remote employees. Additionally, nearly half of global workers expressed intentions to leave their jobs in recent years, highlighting the pervasive impact of stress and dissatisfaction in the workplace. 

1. 6 out of 10 workers in developed countries experience stress in the workplace.
2. A study by The Regus Group found that China has the highest rate of workplace stress, with 86% of workers reporting feeling stressed at work.
3. According to Gallup, 41% of workers experienced a lot of daily stress at work in 2023, down slightly from 44% in 2022, but still higher than pre-pandemic levels.
4. 25% of workers report experiencing feelings of burnout at work.
5. Workers searched online for “signs of burnout” 24% more in 2020 than in 2019.
6. Only 23% of workers reported feeling engaged at work in 2023, per a Gallup poll.
7. Remote workers are more likely to experience loneliness at work compared to in-person workers, with 25% of remote workers reporting a lot of loneliness the previous day, compared to 21% of hybrid workers and 16% of in-person workers. 
8. About half of global employees in 2022 and 2023 showed intent to leave their current jobs.
9. Workplace stress affects 54% of women and 47% of men.

US workplace stress statistics

Workplace stress is a pervasive issue, with 83% of American workers experiencing it daily and only 21% reporting a stress-free month. The toll is profound—affecting mental health, relationships, and even mortality, as workplace stress contributes to an estimated 120,000 deaths annually in the U.S. Remote workers face higher rates of mental health struggles than their office-based or factory counterparts, and nearly half of stressed employees need support learning how to manage it. Despite increased employer focus on mental health—71% of workers say their organizations are more concerned about the issue than before—only 29% of employees feel they are truly thriving at work. High-stress professions like military service, firefighting, and piloting highlight the urgent need for systemic workplace changes to better support employee well-being. 

1. 83% of American workers say they experience work-related stress every day.
2. 46% of US remote workers suffered mental health problems in the last 12 months, compared to 39% of office-based workers and 42% of factory and manufacturing site workers.
3. According to the American Institute of Stress, about half of employees who feel stress at work need help to learn how to manage it.
4. Workplace stress affects relationships outside of work for 76% of US workers.
5. Only 21% of US workers have not felt work-related stress in the past month, according to a 2021 survey by the American Psychological Association.
6. Every year, an estimated 120,000 American workers die as a result of workplace stress. 
7. Only 29% of American workers say they are thriving at work; 71% say they are not thriving, according to Indeed.
8. In a 2022 survey, 71% of American workers said their employer is more concerned about mental health in the workplace than they were in the past.
9. According to Statista, the most stressed workers in the US are military personnel, firefighters, and airline pilots.

Stats showing causes of workplace stress

Workplace stress is at an all-time high, with employees across various industries citing overwhelming workloads, low wages, and limited advancement opportunities as significant stressors. While 75% of workers believe the modern work environment is more stressful than before, specific factors like heavy workloads, commuting challenges, and inadequate paid time off disproportionately affect line-level and customer-facing employees. Those in manual labor, sales, and service roles face higher rates of physical and emotional exhaustion, with many reporting mental and physical health struggles impacting their performance. Additionally, employees working night or rotating shifts are twice as likely to experience severe psychological distress compared to their daytime counterparts. The rise of workplace monitoring technology has also amplified stress levels, with many workers expressing discomfort over being tracked. This growing stress epidemic highlights the urgent need for workplace reforms to support employee well-being.

1. 75% of workers feel that today’s work environment is more stressful than that of the past.
2. Low salaries or wages is a cause of stress for 56% of workers in the US.
3. Half of employees say that too heavy of a workload, the need to commute, and a lack of paid time off cause significant workplace stress.
4. 52% of employees say that the lack of opportunities for advancement is a source of stress at work.
5. Workplace stress levels vary by industry: employees who do manual labor or work in sales, entertainment, or customer service are more likely than those who work in traditional “desk jobs” to experience stress symptoms like physical fatigue, cognitive weariness, and emotional exhaustion.
6. Half of workers in customer service-oriented work and jobs that require manual labor say they’ve felt physical fatigue in the last month.
7. Roughly 40% of service workers and manual laborers say that mental and physical health problems held them back from achieving their work-related goals in the prior month.
8. Line-level employees are more likely to experience workplace stress than higher-ups: 67% of front line and 64% of mid-level employees felt the negative effects of stress in the last 30 days compared to 54% of upper-level employees.
9. Front-line workers are most likely to have felt “fed up” at work in the last month (35% of respondents) compared to upper-level and middle-level employees and individual contributors.
10. 53% of employees say their organization uses technology to monitor them at work, and of those, about half feel uncomfortable with such monitoring.
11. Out of employees who feel stress in the workplace, 60% say their employer uses technology to monitor them.
12. Employees who work night shifts or rotating shifts are about twice as likely to experience serious psychological distress at work than employees who work day shifts.
13. Changing work schedules and inflexible work schedules cause more psychological distress than fixed, yet flexible, work schedules.

Stats showing costs of workplace stress

Workplace stress not only takes a toll on employee well-being but also imposes significant financial burdens on businesses and the global economy. In the U.S., stress-related issues cost industries over $300 billion annually due to lost productivity, absences, and accidents, with an additional $190 billion spent on healthcare costs linked to work-related stress. Globally, mental health conditions like depression and anxiety result in $1 trillion in lost productivity each year, while low employee engagement drains $8.9 trillion, or 9% of global GDP. With nearly 60% of employees reporting negative effects of workplace stress and only 30% having access to mental health coverage through employer-provided health insurance, the growing reliance on prescription medications to manage stress further underscores the urgent need for workplace mental health initiatives. 

1. Every year, workplace stress is estimated to cost the US industry more than $300 billion in losses due to lower productivity, absences, and accidents.
2. Reduced productivity isn’t the only consequence of workplace stress; companies pay an estimated $190 billion per year in healthcare costs as the result of work-related stress.
3. 39% of American workers say their main stressor is their workload.
4. Nearly three in five employees (59%) have experienced negative impacts of work-related stress in the past month.
5. Only 30% of employees say their employer offers health insurance that includes mental health coverage.
6. The global economy loses roughly $1 trillion in lost productivity due to mental health conditions like depression and anxiety.
7. According to Gallup’s 2023 State of the Global Workplace study, low employee engagement costs the global economy $8.9 trillion, or 9% of global GDP. 
8. 30% of American workers take prescription medication to help them manage workplace stress.

Data around the benefits of addressing workplace stress

Addressing workplace stress isn't just about improving employee well-being—it's a smart business strategy with measurable returns. According to OSHA, companies see a $4 productivity boost for every $1 spent on mental health initiatives, while organizations with less stressed employees achieve up to 37% higher sales and 31% greater productivity. Employees are increasingly prioritizing mental health, with 90% saying workplace well-being matters and 81% considering a company's mental health support when job hunting. Flexible hours, paid time off, and better mental health encouragement rank among the most desired changes, alongside increased pay and diversity in leadership. Post-pandemic, more employees report positive workplace changes, especially in work schedules and mental health initiatives. To remain competitive and retain talent, investing in workplace stress reduction and wellness programs is no longer optional—it's essential.

1. According to OSHA, companies can gain a $4 return in increased productivity for every $1 spent addressing mental concerns.
2. A survey conducted by online job board Indeed found that 90% of workers believe that how they feel at work is important.
3. The same survey found that 66% of respondents look at a company’s employee wellbeing data when considering a new job.
4. Employees want to see diversity in leadership, with three-quarters of employees saying that the presence of women and people of color in senior leadership leads to a psychologically healthy workplace.
5. 87% of workers believe that their employers can take actions that would positively improve their mental health.
6. What changes do employees want to see in the workplace? 34% of workers say flexible hours would make a positive difference.
7. 32% of workers want to see their employer encouraging employees to take care of their mental health, and 30% wish their employer would encourage use of paid time off and breaks during the workday.
8. If they could only have one extra perk from their company, employees who are not parents are more likely than those who are parents to want more money (41% vs. 24%), while parents are more likely to say more flexibility (17% vs. 11%).
9. What additional perks do employees feel would help reduce workplace stress? 33% of employees say more money, significantly more than the second-most wanted perk, more flexibility, which 14% of employees want. 
10. According to the American Psychological Association, 81% of workers say a company’s support of mental health is an important consideration in their search for their next workplace.
11. Across industries, employees are more likely to report positive workplace changes after the pandemic than negative ones, with about 30% of employees saying work schedules and mental health initiatives are better now than pre-pandemic.
12. According to Shawn Achor’s book The Happiness Advantage, an organization with employees who are less stressed can raise sales by 37%, productivity by 31%, and accuracy on tasks by 19% compared to employees who experience stress at work.
13. 72% of employers who offer wellness programs say they have been able to reduce healthcare costs.

How does your organization reflect these workplace stress statistics? With these facts and figures in mind, what changes can you make that will lead to better mental health at work? The benefits of addressing workplace stress are clear, so if you want your organization to retain existing employees and be competitive when attracting new talent, it’s worthwhile to invest in initiatives that reduce workplace stress levels.