Workplace burnout continues to be a problem for employees in almost every sector. The term burnout was first coined in 1970. Although there isn’t a medical diagnosis for being exhausted at work, the World Health Organization (WHO) defines burnout as a syndrome resulting from chronic workplace stress.
60% of employees reportedly feel negative work-related impacts worldwide.
According to the stats, this results in reduced motivation and interest, lower work effort (19%), energy (26%), emotional exhaustion (32%), and cognitive weariness (36%). It also significantly increases physical fatigue (38%), which has affected 44% since 2019. In 2019, the WHO officially recognized burnout as an occupational phenomenon.
It’s essential to explore statistics to measure the trends and extent of damage burnout has caused employees over the years. This could help devise ways to manage it. Keep reading these helpful statistics to learn more about burnout and how to overcome it.
Key Burnout Statistics and Trends
There’s a gamut of workplace burnout records online, and finding accurate data might take time. Therefore, we’ve handpicked a few of the most vital ones to enlighten and help you lay out good strategies for managing it.
Whether your job involves physical activities or not, these stats will provide insight into the effect of burnout in modern workplaces.
Note
While burnout is almost always neglected, its effects are risky. So, in this context, who’s most at risk? What causes burnout, and how to cure it? Let’s review the burnout statistics in depth.
Burnout Victims Demographics Statistics
1. In 2020, 32% and 28% of women and men, respectively, reported feeling persistently worn out at work.
2. Over half of women in leadership roles often experience fatigue.
3. Balancing work and young children can lead to additional stress, with 47% of working mothers and 38% of working fathers frequently feeling drained.
4. In February 2021, Millennials, Gen Z, and Gen X had similar exhaustion rates of around 59%, 58%, and 54%, respectively, while baby boomers had a considerably low rate of 31%.
5. Income levels impact the extent of exhaustion rates – probably the most prominent issue in today’s era. People making around $30,000 to $60,000 yearly (mid-level income earners) reported the highest fatigue rate, at 44%. However, those earning $100,000 and above reported the lowest rate, at 38%.
Causes of Burnout Statistics
6. A hectic work ethic and the pressure of meeting deadlines are among the root causes of burnout, which leads to mental stress.
7. Around 15% of workers in the UK experienced occupational burnout because of uncertainties related to Brexit.
8. One out of every five workers in the UK struggles to manage stress and pressure at work, which often results in burnout.
9. Nearly half of workers believe that working from home adds to their feelings of burnout.
10. More than a third of workers, especially younger employees, claim their bosses expect them to work tirelessly hard even after office hours.
11. About a quarter of people aged 16 to 24 and nearly a fifth of those aged 25 to 34 work at least five additional hours per week.
12. Surprisingly, four out of five employees prefer a desk job over being physically continuously on the run. They believe such a job is primarily behind their burnout. With customers demanding more, some employees feel exhausted due to zero guidance or help.
13. Almost half of employees find it hard to stop thinking about work, even on vacations. A policy allowing employees to disconnect from work completely could help them balance work and life.
14. One in five workers is their workplace’s Mr. or Ms. know-it-all. Struggling for unnecessary information sometimes messes with one’s mental state.
15. One out of every five workers can’t stop worrying about unfinished tasks, so they find it hard to disconnect from work.
16. Employees are more likely prone to burnout when there’s less time and more work.
Additional Causes of Burnout Statistics
17. Many workers claim money-oriented issues contribute to their mental stress. Helping employees understand how they manage their money can enhance their financial health and prevent probable burnout.
18. As per WhatsTheBigData’s findings, three out of four people report feeling alone significantly contributes to anxiety and mental illness. Reaching out to people and having friendly conversations might help them.
19. Job insecurity continues to be a point of worry, with almost three out of four employees feeling that the fear of losing their jobs adds to their stress. Being more transparent and open about potential job cuts could help reduce stress and motivate workers.
20. Although burnout is often considered a workspace-related issue, several factors outside of work can also lead to burnout. Most workers believe that being physically unhealthy and having poor sleep habits play a role in causing burnout. 57% of employees feel pressured to be constantly available to their employees around the clock.
21. Workers who perceive a lack of support from their supervisors are 70% more apt to experience burnout.
22. Employees are at a 70% risk of fatigue when confronted with unrealistic time constraints.
23. Employees grappling with exhaustion are 63% more inclined to take a sick day and 23% more likely to seek medical attention in the emergency room.
Burnout Remedies Statistics
24. Senior HR leaders consider flexible working schedules highly effective in preventing employee exhaustion, with 75% endorsing this approach.
25. Workers have a 40% lower likelihood of burning out if they have a supportive colleague.
26. Having leaders’ support in workload management helps employees reduce the risk of exhaustion by 32%.
27. Technology issues and changes in instructional methods during the pandemic have exacerbated stressors such as inadequate funding, challenging teaching situations, and high emotional demands.
28. Nearly 43% of employees recommend that employers promote taking time off and provide mental health days as strategies to tackle burnout.
Burnout Statistics for Remote Work
29. 22% of individuals working from home reported difficulty in disconnecting from work.
30. During the pandemic, 61% of remote employees struggled to unwind outside working hours.
31. Remote workers experienced higher stress than on-site workers in 2020.
32. Data shows that 70% of remote workers work on weekends.
33. Although 72% of HR workers see themselves as helping remote workers, fewer organizations notice mental health issues among them. The number dropped from 41% in 2022 to 27% in 2022.
34. Mental Health UK states nearly half of workers believe remote work adds to job tiredness.
35. Employees working remotely spend an extra 2.5 hours online daily, which makes burnout more likely.
36. A study by Indeed found that 38% of remote employees work after office hours due to their bosses. 61% find it hard to relax after work, and 48% feel they lack emotional support. Right now, 69% of remote employees feel anxiety and stress.
37. Half of those working from home say they lack emotional support.
38. About 38% of remote workers feel burnt out because bosses want them to work more.
39. For 21% of remote workers, burnout is because of pressure from bosses, customers, or clients.
Industry-specific Records of Burnout
Different jobs involve different difficulties and pressures, so it’s unsurprising that people who work in stressful jobs tend to feel more mentally stressed.
40. Social workers face high rates of burnout, with up to 75% experiencing exhaustion due to compassion fatigue and dealing with secondary trauma over their careers.
41. In the UK, 73% of surveyed lawyers felt burnout. Factors such as an imbalance between work and personal life, challenging clients, strained work relationships, and frequent interruptions contributed to their concerns.
42. Nearly 70% of business development and sales workers are on the verge of burnout due to long hours, heavy workloads, and the expectation to always be available.
43. A survey of 2,500 retail employees revealed that almost half planned to quit in the summer of 2021. Among those leaving, 58% cited burnout as the main reason, citing low pay, long hours, irregular schedules, and lack of recognition.
44. Burnout is prevalent in the tech industry, mainly because of poor leadership, excessive workloads, and toxic workplace environments. Among 30 major tech companies surveyed, 25 had a burnout rate of over 50% among their employees.
45. Around 44% of physicians experience burnout, often due to heavy administrative tasks, long work hours, and frequent use of electronic health records.
46. Emergency response teams face high levels of stress from witnessing suffering, dealing with adverse outcomes, and risk of personal injury. Studies show that burnout rates in this field range from 15% to nearly 40%.
47. One in four teachers left their profession by the end of the 2020-2021 school year, compared to one in six before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Expenses Associated with Burnout Statistics
Burnout leads to employees leaving, missing work often, and not approaching the job with the same thrill they used to. This all costs money, but how much? So, let’s see the records so far!
48. Work-related stress results in losing $550 million workdays every year.
49. Workplace stress costs the US economy approximately $500 billion annually.
50. Depression-related absenteeism and decreased productivity record a yearly expense of $51 billion.
Conclusion
Burnout is a big problem nowadays and not just a trendy word. But there are ways to tackle it. Both employers and workers should focus on tackling burnout because it can affect their output and mental and physical health.
Moreover, the finances of both employers and workers are at risk. As reports reveal, stress at work causes the US economy to lose over $300 billion. That number could go up if nothing is done about workplace burnout.
Our handpicked vital statistics and records show the impact of burnout on employees and businesses. It’s easy to understand and navigate ways to tackle burnout issues by looking at the data. Data doesn’t lie.
Frequently Asked Questions
Social workers tend to have more burnout than other jobs. Their jobs involve a lot of emotional stress and hard work without much recognition.
About 24% of social workers experience depression. This is a bit higher than other healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Employees should take breaks to rest and relax, exercise regularly, drink enough water, and write down their feelings to avoid burnout. These things can help reduce the stress and trauma that social workers face daily.
When social workers get burned out, many of them decide to quit their jobs. But because so many social workers are leaving, there aren’t enough new ones being hired. This means there aren’t enough social workers to help needy people.
The United States and Canada have some of the highest levels of workplace stress, which puts workers at a high risk of burnout.
The top 5 most stressful jobs are firefighters, military personnel, police officers, airline pilots, and broadcasters.
Burnout among college students has increased a lot in recent years. One study found that burnout rates increased from 40% of students in August 2020 to 71% in April 2021.