Workplace Mental Health Statistics by Industry

Employees across all industries are experiencing work-related mental health concerns.

While it’s true that things like family and relationships, financial worries, and physical health issues can have a major impact on our mental health, work continues to play a big role in our day-to-day stress and emotional well-being. In fact:

• The American Psychological Association found in 2023 that “workplace stress… remains at a concerning level, with 77% of workers having reported experiencing work-related stress in the last month.”

• The Society for Human Resources’ Employee Mental Health in 2024 Research Series found 45% of workers feel “emotionally drained” from their work, and 51% feel “used up” at the end of the workday. 

• The connection between work and mental health is so important that former U.S. Surgeon General published a Framework for Workplace Mental Health and Well-Being, outlining ways organizations can enable workers to thrive at work and at home.

Burnout rates are troubling across the globe.

While burnout is a distinct concept, research from WebMD Health Service’s Center for Research shows that burnout is closely linked with mental health. The current burnout rates both in the U.S. and abroad are startling. A study by McKinsey finds that 19-38% of workers from 14 different countries report burnout symptoms “sometimes, often or always.” WebMD Health Service’s 2024 Workplace and Employee Survey found one-third of employees are experiencing persistent burnout, and that employee perceptions of burnout increased over 25% from 2022 to 2024. Here’s what we found across different sectors of the workplace:

• Service-oriented sectors (education, government/public administration, healthcare and hospitality) reported low well-being scores across all measured dimensions (physical, work, social, mental health and financial).
• The burnout rate for business and professional services was 22% higher than hospitality, the sector that experienced the lowest burnout rate.
• When it comes to employee experience (including factors such as role clarity, autonomy, manager support, engagement and organizational care), which can influence engagement and mental health, service-oriented sectors typically reported lower ratings, while construction and business professional services reported the highest ratings across each dimension of employee experience.

State of employee mental health by industry.

Let’s take a closer look at mental health statistics in five different industries:

Oil and gas.

Workers in the oil and gas industry are under immense pressure to avoid mistakes that could result in loss of life and environmental destruction.¹ Jobs are highly physical, with long hours and difficult schedules in remote, isolated locations. Workers often struggle to get quality sleep and keep up a healthy diet. Moreover, with two-week shifts they’re away from the support of friends and family for extended periods of time.

Research has shown that workers in the oil and gas industry tend to experience a heightened level of psychological distress. Specifically, workers report anxiety and depression more frequently than the general population.²

In addition:

• The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that the extraction industry (oil, gas, minerals) is among the major occupation groups with the highest suicide rates: two times higher than the national rate for males and three times higher for females.³
• The CDC also finds workers in the construction and extraction occupation group had the highest drug overdose death rates (162.6 deaths per 100,000 workers).⁴
• 19% of oil and gas workers experience psychological disorders.⁵
• Occupational stressors in the oil and gas industry have a negative effect on safety, and mental health and fatigue are risk factors for workers.⁶
• Just 50% of oil and gas workers say empathy is a core part of their organization’s workplace culture.⁷
• Oil and gas workers are clamoring for increased flexibility in scheduling in order to meet the demands of work and life. But just 50-60% of employees in the industry say their leader is supportive when they need to change their work schedule.⁸

Technology.

The technology industry is known for its pressure-cooker environment. Employees work long hours, laser-focused on the next big breakthrough, and overwork is seen as a measure of dedication. The rapid pace of technological change (AI, for example) also means workers are under constant pressure to stay current and adaptable.

Recent developments are adding to mental health concerns. CIO Magazine reports that “the industry has seen mass layoffs amid growing demand to keep pace with constantly evolving technology. These factors are combining to create a state of exhaustion among IT workers, engineers, and cybersecurity pros.”⁹

In 2022, The Burnout Index surveyed 32,644 tech professionals across 33 countries and found:   

• 62% of tech professionals feel physically and emotionally drained due to the demands of their job.   
• 69% of women and 56% of men feel run down and drained of physical and emotional energy after a workday.  
• 2 in 5 of the workers surveyed show a high risk of burnout with 42% of these considering quitting their role in the next 6 months.  

Those in management roles are also feeling the pressure. According to a 2023 Mental Health in Tech Report, a “growing number of individuals in managerial roles within the tech industry are experiencing heightened levels of depression and anxiety.” The report also notes that 55% of respondents “admit to escalating controlled substance usage as a response to stress induced by the fear of potential job cuts.” 

Health care and health systems.

Perhaps more than any other industry, health care workers have experienced unprecedented stress and impacts to their mental health over the last five years. The COVID-19 pandemic ushered in longer working hours and an increased patient volume, leading to burnout and high rates of turnover in all aspects of health care. Amidst staffing shortages, these essential workers often faced anger and harassment from the public. The CDC links harassment to poor mental health, finding that in 2022 of those who experienced harassment on the job:

• 85% reported feelings of anxiety
• 60% reported feelings of depression
• 81% reported feelings of burnout

A report by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) finds that the current mental well-being of frontline health workers is still poor and many are considering leaving the industry, with stress and burnout cited as the main reasons.¹⁰  The NIH also indicates that high rates of depression appear to be a persistent problem which should be addressed as a public health priority.¹¹

The American Hospital Association cites a recent study revealing the following stats about health care workers:

• 93% of reported stress
• 86% reported anxiety
• 77% reported frustration
• 76% reported exhaustion and burnout
• 75% said they were overwhelmed

WebMD Health Service’s 2024 Workplace and Employee Survey also found the health care industry reported the lowest level of mental well-being relative to all other industries.

Manufacturing.

Manufacturing employees face unique stressors that contribute to mental health concerns. They work long hours at jobs that are often physically taxing and highly repetitive. Shifts run around the clock, meaning some workers’ sleep schedules are perpetually in flux, impacting overall health and safety on the job.

A study shows that the manufacturing industry ranks amongst the highest in terms of the prevalence of depression relative to other sectors¹², and this creates safety concerns. A report from the Manufacturers Alliance conducted by Big Health finds that “on-the-job injuries and accidents are more likely to occur when employees experience mental health difficulties like insomnia, anxiety, or depression.”

A study conducted by financial company The Standard found 54% of manufacturing workers know a coworker impacted by substance abuse or addiction. The same study also found that 30% of manufacturing respondents reported moderate mental distress, and of those respondents with mental health issues, 51% reported depression and 45% reported anxiety.

Rob Vallentine, a mental health advocate and expert writes: “The research continues to tell us that people in manufacturing are more likely to struggle with substance abuse, with suicidality and with other mental health concerns.”

Like many industries, layoffs can happen suddenly, creating financial stress. The industry is also dominated by males, a demographic that is less willing to open up about mental health concerns, leading to delays in treatment and the potential to turn to substance misuse to alleviate mental health symptoms.

Higher education.

Like health care, higher education is another industry that was particularly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The industry has also been impacted by the recent pushback against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and the pressure to conform to new federal directives that have affected many universities’ federal funding.

Whether stress and exhaustion is coming from the increased workload of faculty and staff in higher education, the need to carefully navigate DEI territory, or greater mental health needs and support required for the students they teach, a study finds 33% of faculty say they are often or always physically exhausted; 38% are often or always emotionally exhausted; 40% are worn out, and 50% feel that way every day.

The authors of the study say educators are burned out. They write, “Like many workers who struggle with low pay, lack of advancement opportunities and feeling disrespected, higher education faculty members struggle to keep it together because of exhaustion and the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.”¹³ A Healthy Minds Study backs up this sentiment, finding 57% of respondents said they feel burned out because of their work either somewhat, to a high degree, or to a very high degree.

Another study finds:

• About 10 percent of professors screened positive for symptoms of major depression on a patient health questionnaire.
• About half the sample report having at least one symptom of depression.
• One in five professors agree that supporting students in distress negatively impacts their own mental health.

WebMD Health Service’s Workplace and Employee Survey also finds that education workers reported the second highest level of feeling “overwhelmed” (a measure of burnout) compared to other industries studied.

Help prioritize workplace mental health with support from WebMD Health Services.

To some degree, work will always create a certain amount of stress that, when left unchecked, can negatively impact our mental health. But it’s clear from our review that unique factors within certain industries, as well as current events, play a role in how workers are feeling about their mental health today.

The bottom line for all employers—no matter what industry—is to offer employees the tools and resources to better cope with mental health concerns. Doing so has significant upsides for the business in terms of increased engagement, lower health care costs, reduced absenteeism/presenteeism, and reduced turnover.

WebMD Health Services has extensive experience creating well-being programs that cater to the unique needs of employees across a range of different industries. Contact us at connect@webmd.net or request a demo to learn how we can customize a well-being program for your organization.