Judged & drained | Why burnout is lingering even as workplace stress stats improve

A new report suggests that levels of chronic workplace stress have fallen significantly in the years since the pandemic, with just 7.5% of workers reporting daily bad stress in 2024 - a sharp drop from 15% the year before.

But while the figures from ADP point to a positive trend, the data also reveals deeper issues bubbling under the surface. Many employees still feel overloaded, watched, or judged - especially when taking advantage of flexible working policies - and these quieter stressors could be holding back overall wellbeing and productivity.

Everyday stress on the decline

In the wake of the pandemic, there has been a notable decline in everyday work-related stress. In 2021, 19% of workers reported feeling negative stress daily. This figure has steadily decreased to 16% in 2022, 15% in 2023, and under 8% in 2024.

The report also highlights that workplace stress levels vary by region. In Japan, over 14% of workers are affected. In Thailand, the figure stands at 12%, while France and Argentina each have 11%. Taiwan follows with 10%. In contrast, the Netherlands reports a rate of 5%, and both Indonesia and Singapore have 4%. South Africa and China have the lowest rates, each at 3%.