Work Stress Statistics

60% of employees who experience stress report decreased productivity—see the data on how work stress impacts performance.
Niamh WinslowEbba Mäkinen

Written by Niamh Winslow

Fact-checked by Ebba Mäkinen

Statistics
38
Sources
38
Sections
6
Reading time
9 minutes
Work stress shows up in both day-to-day working conditions and measurable outcomes. Across surveys, time pressure and low job control are linked to stress symptoms, burnout frequency, and taking sick leave. The page also covers real-world costs and what interventions can do—such as time-limited workplace programs and returns-to-work support. Explore how these signals add up from the UK and US to across the EU.

Key Takeaways

  1. 14.6% of workers in Great Britain reported experiencing work-related stress in 2023/24 (Labour Force Survey estimates)
  2. 219.6% of US adults reported having symptoms of anxiety (PHQ- and GAD-based measure category) in 2023 (National Health Interview Survey).
  3. 333% of US adults report that stress has increased compared with the previous year (APA Stress in America, 2020)
  4. 44.6% of US adults reported frequent mental distress in 2023 (SAMHSA National Survey on Drug Use and Health, estimate)
  5. 548% of employees with high burnout levels consider leaving their job (Gallup, 2022)
  6. 660% of employees who experience stress report decreased productivity at work (APA / Workplace and Well-Being survey, 2021)
  7. 767% of organizations report using a dedicated wellbeing or mental health program (WorldatWork, 2023)
  8. 874% of employers that offer employee assistance programs (EAPs) report improved employee wellbeing outcomes (EAP industry survey, 2020)
  9. 92.9-point improvement in Work Ability Index after occupational stress reduction interventions (systematic review, 2020)
  10. 10$1,200 average annual cost per employee from poor mental health in the workplace in the US (RAND, 2021 estimate)
  11. 1133% of employees in the UK report that stress has led to them taking sick leave at least once in the last year (Health and Safety Executive survey findings, 2019)
  12. 12€600 billion is estimated to be the annual cost of work-related stress across the European Union (estimated economic burden).
  13. 1323% of EU employees report low levels of job control (European Working Conditions Survey, 2015)
  14. 1450% of workers who experience low support at work report stress-related symptoms (association reported in survey analysis)
  15. 1528% of employees report burnout at least monthly (burnout frequency survey).

Work stress is widespread, and support programs can cut symptoms and sick leave while improving wellbeing.

Related reading

01Prevalence

5
  1. 14.6% of workers in Great Britain reported experiencing work-related stress in 2023/24 (Labour Force Survey estimates)
  2. 219.6% of US adults reported having symptoms of anxiety (PHQ- and GAD-based measure category) in 2023 (National Health Interview Survey).
  3. 333% of US adults report that stress has increased compared with the previous year (APA Stress in America, 2020)
  4. 415% of US adults report that their stress levels are high (American Psychological Association, 2019)
  5. 538% of employed adults in the United States reported that they felt stress at least some of the time on the prior day (stress levels survey).

More related reading

02Health Outcomes

4
  1. 14.6% of US adults reported frequent mental distress in 2023 (SAMHSA National Survey on Drug Use and Health, estimate)
  2. 248% of employees with high burnout levels consider leaving their job (Gallup, 2022)
  3. 360% of employees who experience stress report decreased productivity at work (APA / Workplace and Well-Being survey, 2021)
  4. 431% of workers in the EU report they have been ill due to work-related stress in the past 12 months (European Working Conditions Survey, 2015)

More related reading

03Industry Overview

15
  1. 167% of organizations report using a dedicated wellbeing or mental health program (WorldatWork, 2023)
  2. 274% of employers that offer employee assistance programs (EAPs) report improved employee wellbeing outcomes (EAP industry survey, 2020)
  3. 32.9-point improvement in Work Ability Index after occupational stress reduction interventions (systematic review, 2020)
  4. 41.44 million workers’ work-related stress injuries were reported in the EU in 2019 (reported cases).
  5. 523% of workers who received stress-management training reported improved coping skills (randomized trial, 2018)
  6. 677% of employees who use an employee assistance program report that it helps them deal with personal or work problems (EAP effectiveness survey).
  7. 754% of organizations provide manager training on mental health and wellbeing (workplace wellbeing survey).
  8. 841% of employees say their stress affected their ability to sleep (employee health behaviors survey).
  9. 92.1x higher odds of near-miss accidents among workers with high job strain compared with low job strain (occupational study).
  10. 101.6x higher risk of cardiovascular events among people with high perceived stress versus low perceived stress (meta-analytic estimate).
  11. 1163% of workers say flexible work arrangements help reduce stress
  12. 1291% of employers that implemented workplace wellbeing programs reported improving employee wellbeing (self-reported outcomes)
  13. 134% of adults have serious mental illness at some point during a given year
  14. 1412% of workers report symptoms consistent with generalized anxiety disorder (self-reported screening proxy)
  15. 15$300 billion estimated annual cost of workplace stress to the US economy

04Cost Analysis

5
  1. 1$1,200average annual cost per employee from poor mental health in the workplace in the US (RAND, 2021 estimate)
  2. 233% of employees in the UK report that stress has led to them taking sick leave at least once in the last year (Health and Safety Executive survey findings, 2019)
  3. 3€600 billion is estimated to be the annual cost of work-related stress across the European Union (estimated economic burden).
  4. 46% of annual healthcare expenditures in the US are attributed to mental health conditions (share of healthcare spending).
  5. 5$300 billion estimated annual cost of workplace stress to the US economy

More related reading

05Risk Factors

5
  1. 123% of EU employees report low levels of job control (European Working Conditions Survey, 2015)
  2. 250% of workers who experience low support at work report stress-related symptoms (association reported in survey analysis)
  3. 328% of employees report burnout at least monthly (burnout frequency survey).
  4. 427% of workers report that they are often or always exposed to high levels of time pressure (work intensity survey).
  5. 541% of organizations identify workload/overwork as a leading driver of employee mental health issues (employer survey).

More related reading

06Prevention Effectiveness

4
  1. 125% reduction in stress symptoms reported after participation in a workplace intervention program (meta-analytic finding)
  2. 21.5x improvement in mental wellbeing scores after workplace stress reduction programs (meta-analytic effect size)
  3. 38 weeks is the median program duration for workplace interventions showing measurable reductions in stress outcomes (review of intervention studies)
  4. 42.0% decrease in sickness absence associated with return-to-work and mental health support programs (study finding)

Cite this report

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APA
Niamh Winslow. (2026, September 22). Work Stress Statistics. Gaugius. https://gaugius.com/work-stress-statistics
MLA
Niamh Winslow. "Work Stress Statistics." Gaugius, 22 Sep 2026, https://gaugius.com/work-stress-statistics.
Chicago
Niamh Winslow. 2026. "Work Stress Statistics." Gaugius. https://gaugius.com/work-stress-statistics.

Sources and references

38 datasets cited across this report. Attribution is report-level.

hse.gov.ukcdc.govsamhsa.govworldatwork.orggallup.comrand.orgapa.orgeapa.orgjospt.orgec.europa.eujournals.sagepub.comeurofound.europa.euoecd.orgwtwco.comemployment-social-affairs.ec.europa.euforbes.comsciencedirect.comcochranelibrary.compubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.goveapassn.orgbenefitspro.comlinkinghub.elsevier.combmjopen.bmj.comwellsteps.comnimh.nih.govjamanetwork.com

12 additional datasets are cited and not shown individually.