Workplace stress remains one of the most widespread and damaging issues affecting employees worldwide.

High pressure, chronic overload, and poor organisational systems are driving significant mental-health impacts, productivity loss, and safety risks across industries.

This roundup compiles the most important workplace stress statistics for 2026, giving you a clear, data-driven snapshot of the problem so you can benchmark your organisation and take practical steps to reduce work-related stress.

Overall Prevalence of Workplace Stress

44% of workers globally say they experienced “a lot” of stress during the previous day — the highest level ever recorded. [1]

55% of U.S. adults report feeling daily stress, one of the highest rates worldwide. [2]

80% of workers say they feel stressed on the job. [3]

77% of employees report stress related specifically to work demands. [4]

41% of global employees reported high stress in 2024 survey snapshots. [5]

Australia-Specific Stress Trends

34% of Australian employees say their mental health has declined over the past six months. [6]

37% report reduced engagement or belonging due to rising stress levels. [6]

More than 5 in 10 workers (≈50%) report experiencing “a lot” of stress at work. [7]

Australian workplaces lose an estimated 3.2 days per worker per year due to stress-related absence. [8]

Impact of Stress on Health & Daily Life

72% of people experiencing daily stress say it interferes with their day-to-day life. [9]

40% report persistent stress or excessive anxiety. [9]

76% of employees say work-related stress negatively affects their sleep. [10]

In unhealthy workplaces, 90% say stress disrupts sleep — compared to 44% in healthy workplaces. [10]

30% of workers with daily stress rely on medication to manage symptoms, and 28% have experienced a stress-related panic or anxiety attack. [9]

Economic & Productivity Costs of Workplace Stress

Workplace stress contributes to US$1 trillion in lost productivity globally each year. [11]

Stress, depression, and anxiety drive the loss of 12 billion working days annually worldwide. [11]

Australian businesses lose over A$10 billion annually due to stress-related absenteeism and presenteeism. [12]

Medibank data attributes more than 20 million sick days per year to workplace stress in Australia. [13]

How Stress Affects Work Performance & Retention

50% of workers say stress reduces their productivity and motivation. [14]

48% report high stress as a factor in considering a job change. [15]

Workers experiencing high stress are significantly more likely to disengage, withdraw, or reduce discretionary effort — contributing to “quiet quitting.” [7]

Reporting & Disclosure of Work-Related Stress

Less than half of employees suffering work-related stress discuss it with their employer. [16]

Many employees under-report stress because they believe nothing will change or because workload pressures are “normalised.” [16]

Workers frequently cite stigma, fear of judgment, or lack of psychological safety as barriers to raising stress concerns. [16]

Reference List

[1] Gallup – State of the Global Workplace

[2] MyShortlister – Workplace Stress Statistics Report

[3] MyShortlister – Workplace Stress Statistics Report

[4] Select Software Reviews – Workplace Stress Trends

[5] Forbes – Global Workforce Stress Snapshot 2024

[6] Bond University – Stress Levels in Australian Workplaces

[7] CPA Australia – Workplace Stress Findings

[8] Medibank – Cost of Workplace Stress in Australia

[9] ADAA – Workplace Stress & Anxiety Study

[10] SHRM / Sleep Foundation – Work Stress & Sleep Health

[11] WHO – Mental Health at Work Fact Sheet

[12] CANN Elevate – Economic Impact of Workplace Stress

[13] Medibank – Workplace Stress Cost Analysis

[14] Select Software Reviews – Impact of Stress on Productivity

[15] MyShortlister – Employee Stress & Turnover Insights

[16] Spill – Workplace Stress Reporting & Disclosure Statistics

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