55+ Alarming Workplace Stress Statistics & Facts [2024]

Feeling overwhelmed at work?

Is it affecting your work and life?

91% of employees said that feeling overwhelmingly stressed has negatively affected the quality of their work.

About 83% of employees felt emotionally drained from their work. 

62% of women and 52% of men reported to be feeling stressed.

 Are you part of the silent majority? 

One in five Americans report that they never engage in an activity to help relieve or manage stress.

One-third of employees report that their employer wants them accountable 24×7 as they think the ideal employee would be available anytime.

Ready to tackle stress head-on? 

Dive into troubling workplace stress statistics and trends to reclaim the work-life balance.

Top Workplace Stress Statistics- Editor’s Pick

1. According to 41% of employees, stress leads to decrement in productivity. ^[3]
2. Marketing and advertising industry is the most stressful industry where workers feel stressed about 3.84 days per week on average. ^[20]
3. 17% of healthcare workers report being “very stressed” at work. ^[10]
4. Workload is the main cause of stress for 39% of workers who have to stretch working hours to manage it. ^[6]
5. 19% said the top cause of their stress is maintaining a work-life balance. ^[6]
6. According to the latest statistics, depression caused by work stress is costing the US economy over $210 billion per year. ^[22]
7. Overall, US businesses lose up to $300 billion yearly as a result of workplace stress. ^[22]
8. 85% of respondents agreed or somewhat too strongly agreed that “their workplace stress affects their mental health”. ^[21]

General Workplace Stress Statistics

How do you know your organization has a stressful environment?

General signs that the entire workplace has a stressful environment are high employee turnover, long working hours, low productivity, frequent absences, and lower efficiency. ^[1]

Stress negatively impacts job performance and decreases work engagement. ^[2]

• According to 41% of employees, stress leads to decrement in productivity. ^[3]
• 33% of employees confirmed that it made them less engaged. ^[3]
• 15% of workers admitted to looking for a new job due to stress. ^[3]
• 91% of employees said that feeling overwhelmingly stressed has negatively affected the quality of their work. ^[4]
• More than half of the workers frequently skip lunch because of work, increasing their stress. ^[5]
• 80% of remote employees say they are “not anxious at all” or “stressed to a modest degree.” ^[11]
• Workers who work from home are more likely to be stress-free. ^[12]

Workplace Stress Statistics By Industry

Is it just you or your industry is stressful?

Marketing and advertising industry is the most stressful industry where workers feel stressed about 3.84 days per week on average. ^[20]

The arts, entertainment, and recreation industry is next in line with 3.41 stressful days in a week. ^[20]

It is quite surprising to note that the publishing, broadcasting, and journaling industry are relatively less stressful than retail, technology and telecommunications. ^[20]

Some least stressful jobs include medical records technician, jeweler, and operations research analyst. ^[20]

17% of healthcare workers report being “very stressed” at work. ^[10]

Workplace Stress Statistics By Demographics

Who is an average stressed employee?

Are there any special categories binding them?

Let’s find out!

Workplace Stress Statistics By Gender & Age Group

• 62% of women and 52% of men reported to be feeling stressed. ^[17]
• Situations are worse for LGBTQ+ community as about 43% of gays and 90% of transgenders have faced mental and physical harassment or mistreatment in the workplace. ^[23]
• 69% of US Gen Z employees report workplace stress. ^[2]
• 71% of millennial workers are stressed due to work. ^[2]
• Among the Gen X,  59% of employees are suffering workplace stress. ^[2]

Workplace Stress Statistics By Region

1. According to 2022 reports 55% of East Asian workplaces suffer stress. ^[24]
2. Though Americans and Canadians reported highest workplace stress (57%) in 2021, the situation slightly improved in 2022 (50%). ^[24]
3. 39% of African employees are reported to be stressed.
4. Situations have been similar for the last few years in Southeast Asia, with 31% of employees being stressed at the workplace. ^[24]
5. 47% of Australian employees are reported to be stressed. ^[24]

What Factors Cause Workplace Stress?

• The most common factors that cause stress in the workplace are negative office politics and workload. ^[6]
• Workload is the main cause of stress for 39% of workers who have to stretch working hours to manage it. ^[6]
• 19% said the top cause of their stress is maintaining a work-life balance. ^[6]
• 31% claimed interpersonal relationships at work as the cause of stress. ^[8]
• 58% of employees have left a job or are affected by negative office politics. ^[8]

80% of US workers said poor communication within the company stresses them out. ^[7]

One in three workers said their boss thinks work should be a top priority and come before family life. ^[7]

One-third of employees report that their employer wants them accountable 24×7 as they think the ideal employee would be available anytime. ^[7]

According to SHRM study, some other common stress factors are low salaries, lack of opportunity for growth, unrealistic job expectations, and long hours. ^[9]

About half of the workers also state that a lack of growth or advancement opportunities is another significant stress factor. ^[13]

How Workplace Stress Affects Life?

“Work should remain in the workplace”, but that is not what usually happens, right? 

Is it affecting every domain of your life?

You are not alone! 

7 in 10 adults confirmed that workplace stress affects their personal relationships. ^[14]

50% of workers usually bring their work home, causing interference in their personal and work life. ^[15]

25% of workers said their job is #1 stressor in their lives. ^[16]

Working moms are 18% more stressed than the rest of the labor force. ^[17]

80% of workers said work-related stress affects their relationships with colleagues, friends, and families. ^[18]

Over 20% of workers spend more than five hours of office time weekly thinking about their stressors and their worries. ^[18]

How Workplace Stress Affects Health?

85% of respondents agreed or somewhat too strongly agreed that “their workplace stress affects their mental health”. ^[21]

Over 40% of respondents strongly agreed that ‘their workplace stress affects their mental health’. ^[21]

About 83% of employees felt emotionally drained from their work. ^[21]

Here we have reviewed most common health effects of workplace stress:

• About 15% of employees are depressed due to workplace stress. ^[19]
• 66% of stressed employees suffer insomnia. 
• 62% reported experiencing neck pain. 
• 52% of workers skip lunch, causing many health issues. 
• Strained eyes is a big issue for tech desk jobs.

Cost of Workplace Stress

A study conducted by the APA back in 2017 found that work-related stress was costing companies $187 billion per year. ^[3]

The productivity lost due to “checked out” workers costs the global economy US $8.1 trillion each year. ^[13] 

That’s nearly 10% of GDP!

According to the latest statistics, depression by work stress is costing the US economy over $210 billion per year. ^[22]

Overall, US businesses lose up to $300 billion yearly as a result of workplace stress. ^[22]

It is concerning to note that work-related stress causes 120,000 deaths and results in $190 billion in healthcare costs yearly. ^[15]

Workplace Stress Management Statistics

How do you relieve your stress? Or do you?

One in five Americans report that they never engage in an activity to help relieve or manage stress. ^[21]

Generally employees handle workplace stress by consuming more caffeine (31%), smoking (27%), and exercising more frequently (25%). ^[20]

Employers engage in strategies like flexible working hours, work from home, longer lunch hours, and job sharing to manage workplace stress. ^[9]

Interestingly men and women manage their stress differently. 

• 46% of women tend to eat more compared to only 27% of men. ^[22]
• 44% of women talk with friends and family compared to 21% of men. ^[22]
• While 19% of men are more likely to have sex frequently compared to 10% of women. ^[22]
• 12% of men cope by using illicit drugs, compared to only 2% of women. ^[22]

FAQs 

How do employees manage stress?

Generally employees handle workplace stress by consuming more caffeine (31%), smoking (27%), and exercising more frequently (25%).

What steps can employers take to reduce workplace stress?

Employers engage in strategies like flexible working hours, work from home, longer lunch hours, and job sharing to manage workplace stress.

What are symptoms of workplace stress?

Experiencing negative emotions, feeling overwhelmed, anxious, headaches, muscle tension, using a lot of caffeine, drugs to cope and feel better. 

The Final Thought

High employee turnover, long working hours, low productivity, frequent absences, and lower efficiency indicate workplace stress. 

Stress negatively impacts job performance and mental health of employees, affecting their work engagement as well as relationships. 

Workload is the main cause of stress for 39% of workers who have to stretch working hours to manage it. Office politics, over expectations, lack of communication, and low salary are some other reasons that cause workplace stress. 

Generally employees handle workplace stress by consuming more caffeine, smoking, and exercising more frequently.

Sources

1. Stress.org. Recognizing Workplace Stress
2. CDC. Mental Health Disorders and Stress Affect Working-Age Americans 
3. Colonial life. Stressed workers costing employers billions
4. Deloitte. Workplace Burnout Survey
5. Maximize Success Academy. Stress Management Effects
6. HSE. Health and safety at work
7. Oen Magazine. Pressure at work damages our relationships, says new report
8. Randstad. Your best employees are leaving. but is it personal or practical?
9. SHRM. What Managers Can Do to Ease Workplace Stress
10. Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Burnout in Healthcare Workers
11. Pwc. 80 Low-Stress Jobs that Can Be Done Remotely
12. Flex Jobs. It’s time to reimagine where and how work will get done
13. APA. The American workforce faces compounding pressure
14. ADAA. Highlights: Workplace Stress & Anxiety Disorders Survey
15. HBR. Don’t Take Work Stress Home with You
16. Stress.org. Are you experiencing workplace stress?
17. Globalnews.ca. Working moms 40% more stressed than women without kids
18. MHA. 2021 Mind the Workplace Report
19. WHO. Mental health and substance use 
20. CBS News. The ten most and least stressful jobs in America
21. APA. Paying With Our Health
22. HealthAdvocate. Stress in workplace
23. Mindshare Partners. Workplace Mental Health for LGBTQ+ Professionals
24. Gallup. State of the Global Workplace Report 2022

Manisha Saini

Manisha is a digital writer providing guidance in career development and growth. She facilitates skill development and implementation of the right strategies for advancement. At Jobera, She documents content around the latest market trend analysis, insights, and career planning.

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