60+ Work Burnout Statistics and Facts [2024]

Have you felt frustrated because of work stress? Have you ever felt emotionally drained? Or have you started losing interest and motivation to do your work? 

These are the signs of work burnout. Are you encountering these things, too? You’re not alone. 

Many people face difficulties with concentration, decision-making, and completing tasks. Deloitte’s research has revealed that 77% of employees have experienced burnout in their current roles. 

Curious to know more details and work burnout stats? This topic will cover all, so read on – 

Top 11 Work Burnout Statistics: Editor’s Pick

1. A study by Indeed revealed that 52% of workers expressed feelings of burnout. 
2. Deloitte’s research divulged that 77% of employees have encountered burnout in their current roles. The key findings of this study are –
   • Leaders ‘ lack of support and recognition is a crucial factor contributing to this burnout. 
   • 83% reported work burnout affects their personal relationships. 
   • Almost 70% of professionals feel their employers inadequately address or prevent burnout within their organization. 
3. Mental Health UK’s 2021 findings disclosed that 46% of workers felt susceptible to extreme stress levels compared to the previous year.
   • 1 of 5 said that they are unable to handle stress and pressure in the workplace. 
4. 25% of employees exhibited burnout symptoms in 2023. 
   • Women are more likely to experience burnout than men.
5. 75% of workers have encountered burnout, with 40% specifically attributing it to the challenges of the pandemic. [1]
6. 67% of all workers believe that burnout has intensified during the Covid-19. [2]
7. The experience of work-related stress varies by gender, with 74% of women reporting stress compared to 61% of men. 
8. Women and workers under 30 face a higher risk of burnout than others. Among 18-to-29-year-olds, nearly half (48%) reported feeling drained, while this figure was slightly lower at 40% for their peers aged 30 and above. Women reported higher levels of burnout, with 46% expressing feelings of burnout, compared to 37% of men.
9. According to Thrive My Way, Mid-level income earners, particularly those in the $30,000 to $60,000 bracket, reported a high burnout rate of 44%. The lowest burnout rate was noted in the $100,000 and above income bracket at 38%.
10. Over half of women in leadership positions report feeling burned out on a consistent basis. 
11. Over 15 million days were lost in 2019 because employees were experiencing work burnout. [3]

Factors Leading to Work Burnout Statistics

1. The 2018 Deloitte survey identified three key workplace factors contributing to employee burnout –
   • Lack of support or recognition for their work. 
   • Unrealistic deadline and results expectations. 
   • Working long hours or on the weekends.
2. Employees who feel no one supports them are 70% more likely to go through burnout.
3. About 38% of remote workers suffer burnout due to management’s pressure to work longer hours. [4]
4. Workload was identified as the primary cause of workplace burnout. 

Burnout in Different Generations

Generational differences in burnout are notable, with research indicating varying levels among different age groups. Here’s a breakdown of burnout trends across generations:

1. Millennials:

• 84% of Millennials report suffering from work burnout in their current jobs.
• Nearly half of Millennials surveyed have left a job specifically due to experiencing burnout.

2. Generation Z:

• In 2020, 47% of Gen Z endorsed experiencing burnout. This figure rose to 58% in 2021.

3. Generation X:

• Before 2020, 53% of Gen X individuals reported burnout. This number increased to 59% in 2021. 

How do Work Burnout Statistics Differ Across Different Industries?

According to a study conducted by Workday on burnout risk levels between 2021 and 2022, some industries were more affected than others. 

The transportation sector witnessed a 16% increase, government jobs saw a 10% rise, and healthcare experienced a 4% uptick in burnout risk. 

Conversely, manufacturing, professional and business services, as well as financial services, observed a decline in burnout rates.

The hospitality sector faces the highest burnout rate, reaching 80%.

How Does Work Burnout Impact on Mental and Physical Health ?

1. In a CIPD survey, 79% of respondents reported stress-related absences within their organization over the past year, with larger organizations experiencing an even higher rate of 90%.
2. The APA’s 2021 Work and Wellbeing Survey disclosed that 3 out of 5 employees faced adverse mental and physical effects due to work-related stress. Among these stressed people –
   1. 26% lacked motivation, interest or energy.
   2. 32% experienced emotional exhaustion.
   3. 44% dealt with high levels of physical fatigue. 
3. Working over time caused 745,000 deaths from stroke and heart disease in 2016. [6]
4. Research from the Journal of Human Resource Management highlights that excessive consulting hours, particularly those exceeding 70 hours per week, contribute to poor mental health. 
5. Gallup’s research indicates that burned-out employees in the United States are 63% more likely to take sick days compared to their happier, more engaged counterparts.
6. According to a 2017 report, burnout syndrome constitutes 8% of all occupational illness cases. 
7. The American Psychological Association (APA) has compiled data from various reports, establishing a clear link between burnout and adverse health effects. Employees experiencing true workplace burnout face a 57% higher risk of workplace absences, a 180% increased risk of depressive disorders, an 84% higher risk of Type 2 diabetes, and a 40% elevated risk of hypertension.

What is the Impact of Burnout on Personal Life?

In a 2018 Deloitte survey, the impact of burnout on personal and professional life was also found out. Statistics of those are – 

1. 83% of professionals stated that burnout can have a ruinous affect on their personal relations.
2. 66% said that they often skip at least one meal a day due to workload and stress.
3. 1 in 4 workers rarely or never take all their allotted vacation days.

Work Burnout and Desire to Quit the Job Relation Statistics

1. Burned-out employees are 2.6 times more likely to actively seek alternative employment.
2. Westfield Health survey revealed that 64% of professionals see their mental health as a primary motivator for finding a new job. 
3. Low job satisfaction and emotional exhaustion strongly predict the intention to leave one’s current job.
4. An APA survey found that 81% of employees actively seek workplaces that support mental health when considering future roles. 
5. Physicians, notably impacted during the pandemic, with over half describing burnout in 2021, identified burnout as a significant factor leading to desires to quit or reduce working hours. 

Work Burnout and Turnover Correlation Statistics 

1. Physicians, notably impacted during the pandemic, with over half describing burnout in 2021, identified burnout as a significant factor leading to desires to quit or reduce working hours. This reduced clinic time is estimated to cost $4.6 billion annually in the US.
2. Turnover and lost productivity due to burnout cost approximately $322 billion globally. [8]
3. People grappling with depression and anxiety are less productive which results in an estimated loss of $1 trillion/year. [9]

8 Remote Work Burnout Statistics

Remote work, while offering flexibility, brings forth various challenges for employees and managers. The following stats prove that.

1. Despite 72% of HR workers perceiving themselves as providing support for remote workers, a notable decline in organizational efforts to identify poor mental health among remote workers was found. The percentage dropped from 41% in 2022 to 27% in 2022. 
2. Mental Health UK highlights that almost half of the professionals believe that remote work contributes to work burnout. 
3. Remote workers spend an additional 2.5 hours logged in each day, exposing them to a higher risk of burnout. [10]
4. Indeed’s research found that 38% of remote workers felt pressure from management to increase working hours. 61% found it challenging to disconnect after work. Also, 48% of remote workers expressed a lack of emotional support. 
5. 69% of remote employees are currently experiencing burnout. [11]
6. 48% of employees working from home express a lack of emotional support. [12]
7. About 38% of remote workers suffer burnout due to management’s pressure to work longer hours. [13]
8. For 21% of remote employees, burnout is attributed to a mix of pressure from managers, customers, or clients. [14]

5 Pre-Corona Work Burnout Statistics

1. 84% of millennials experienced burnout in their jobs (Deloitte, 2019).
2. According to a study by the World Economic Forum in 2019, burnout was a significant concern in various countries: 57% in the UK, 50% in the United States, 37% in Spain, 30% in Germany and France. 
3. In a study done by Cartridge People in 2019, it was found that, in the UK, 15% of workers experienced workplace burnout related to Brexit.
4. 1 in 4 employees felt burned out at work very often or always, and nearly half reported feeling it occasionally. [16]
5. According to Clockify’s 2019 study, Only 3 out of 10 managers addressed employee burnout. 

Post-Pandemic Work Burnout Statistics 

1. Despite the global recovery from the pandemic, Gallup’s 2023 State of the Global Workplace report indicates that employees are still experiencing elevated stress levels. 44% of respondents reported experiencing significant stress (same as last year). 
2. According to a 2022 survey by APA, 71% of employees noted an increased concern from their employers regarding mental health. 
3. 80% of employees believe their managers have been proactive in ensuring the health and safety of their teams than before. 

Burnout and Spending Statistics

Research done on the effect of workplace stress on mortality and health costs in the United States discovered alarming figures — nearly 120,000 deaths and close to 5-8% of total annual healthcare costs.

10 Burnout-Related Statistics

1. 79% of workers in 44 countries felt they were handling at or beyond their workload capacity. [17]
2. According to Flexjobs, Only 21% of workers claim they could have open conversations with HR regarding solutions to their burnout. 
3. APA explored whether mental health and safety initiatives had improved since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. About 34% of office workers and 32% of customer service workers felt that initiatives had improved. In contrast, only 25% of manual labourers shared the same sentiment. 
4. A study done by Indeed shows that among work-from-home employees, 53% report working more hours than they did in the office. 
5.  86% of remote employees have suffered from high exhaustion levels. [18]
6. According to The Atlantic’s research, the transition from office work to full-time remote work results in an increase in loneliness, rising by 67 percentage points.
7. A substantial 61% of remote workers find it more challenging to “unplug” from work during off-hours. [19]
8. Only one in five workers feel able to have open conversations with HR about burnout solutions. Additionally, 56% reported that their HR departments don’t actively encourage discussions about work burnout. [20]
9. It was found that 4 out of 10 people who worked 50+ hours/week didn’t have a burnout program in their companies. [21]
10. Those struggling with balancing home and work were 4.4 times more likely to show signs of job burnout (LinkedIn).

Frequently Asked Questions

What Career has the Highest Burnout Rate? 

The hospitality sector faces the highest burnout rate, reaching 80%. Apart from this, educators, tech industry professionals, and consultants have the highest burnout rate because their career demands long hours and emotional involvement. 

What is the Global Rate of Burnout? 

According to the Global Workplace Report, 43% of people have faced burnout. 

What Percentage of People Feel Overworked? 

29% of employees feel overworked. They say they were burned out because of work. 

How Many Hours of Work Cause Burnout? 

Some research says that when people work for more than 60 hours/week, they become more prone to burnout. 

Does Burnout affect the Confidence of People? 

Gallup’s research indicates that burned-out employees experience a 13% decrease in confidence regarding their performance.

Does Burnout affect the Quality of Work? 

Yes, it does. According to Deloitte, 91% of professionals endorsed experiencing unmanageable frustration and stress which negatively affects their work quality.

Are Females more prone to Work Burnout? 

Yes, A study by The Independent reported that Women were more likely to suffer from workplace burnout than men. 

Summing up…

Burnout has become quite common among people nowadays – stats are showing that. It’s not just a word. It’s what employers and employees both should focus on. 

Otherwise, it can not only impact their productivity and mental and physical health but can also cause financial problems. Workplace stress exacts a substantial toll on the U.S. economy, amounting to an average cost of $300 billion annually. It can even increase if not taken care of. 

Sources

1. McKinsey. Burnout continues
2. LinkedIn. Employee Well-Being Report
3. Indeed. Indeed Study Shows That Worker Burnout Is At Frighteningly High Levels
4. Flexjobs. Mental Health America Survey: Mental Health in the Workplace
5. Deloitte. Workplace Burnout Survey
6. Mental Health UK.  Burnout
7. APA. Burnout and stress are everywhere
8. CIPD. Health and wellbeing at work
9. Cartridge People. What’s Causing UK Workers Stress in 2019
10. Flexjobs. Mental Health America
11. WHO. Long Working Hours Increasing Deaths from Heart Diseases and Stroke, WHO Special Initiative for Mental Health
12. International Labour Organization. Long Working Hours 
13. Journal of Human Resource Management. Leader strain and follower burnout
14. Gallup. Gallup Wellbeing and Workplace Study
15. Forbes. Symptoms Of Job Burnout And 7 Steps To Recovery
16. Westfield Health. Wellbeing and workplace culture
17. CNBC. Remote work burnout is growing as pandemic stretches on
18. TinyPulse. TINYpulse State of Employee Engagement Q2 2021
19. PWC. PwC’s Global Workforce Hopes and Fears Survey 2022
20. Qualtrics. Employee burnout: Causes, symptoms and remedies
21. Clockify. Career burnout and its effect on health
22. Stanford Business. The Relationship between Workplace Stressors and Health Costs
23. Frontiers. A systematic review and meta analysis on burnout in physicians

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Martin Potocki

Martin is the CEO and Co-founder of Jobera.com, a global remote career advice platform. As a Career and Job Search Expert, he is dedicated to helping job seekers worldwide develop skills, find career opportunities, and land jobs efficiently. Martin shares his expertise by guiding individuals toward professional success and fulfillment.

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