Burnout Report 2025 reveals generational divide in levels of stress and work absence

We’ve published findings of our second Annual Burnout report*, which takes the pulse of the nation’s stress levels. The survey of 4,418 UK adults conducted by YouGov finds that the risk of burnout remains prevalent, with one in three (34%) adults experiencing high or extreme levels of pressure or stress ‘always’ or ‘often’ last year, compared with 35% the previous year. Meanwhile, nine in 10 (91%) experienced high pressure or stress at some point over the last year.

Key findings

  • Many still at risk of burnout, with 9 in 10 experiencing high or extreme levels of pressure or stress in last year.
  • Signs of a widening generational divide and breakdown in trust, with 18-24-year-olds most likely to be absent due to poor mental health caused by stress, amid a sharp decline in likelihood they’d open up with line managers about stress levels.
  • Highlights how younger workers could be better supported, as survey reveals 18-24 year-olds are most likely to say interventions such as reasonable adjustments, mental health training and a supportive line manager help alleviate stress and prevent burnout.
  • Alarm raised around gaps in healthcare as those aged 18-24 are three times more likely to have needed time off due to deteriorating health caused by NHS waits than those aged 55+.

The survey points to a growing generational divide in experiences of stress and poor mental health in the workplace at a time of rising economic inactivity among the young, which organisations must address or else risk losing out on the newest generation of workers.

While the proportion of people needing time off work due to poor mental health caused by stress remained constant at around one in five (21%), the Burnout Report 2025 shows increases in the proportion of those aged 18-24, 25-34 and 35-44 who needed time off in the past year for this reason, and a decrease among those aged 45-54 and 55+**.

Those aged between 18-24 were also most likely to report high stress due to issues such as having to regularly work unpaid overtime (experienced by 48%), taking on additional hours due to the increased cost of living (46%) and feeling isolated at work (44%). Meanwhile those aged 25-34 were most likely to report high stress due to a high or increased workload or volume of tasks (56%) and fears of redundancy or job security (45%).

It appears younger generations are less able to enjoy a work-life balance too, with just one-third (33%) of 18-24-year-olds agreeing with the statement that they could switch off from work when they needed to, compared with 46% of those aged 55+.

And in a warning sign of a breakdown in trust between employers and younger workers, the proportion of 18-24-year-olds who would feel comfortable opening up to a line manager about pressure and stress dropped sharply from 75% in the Burnout Report 2024 to 56% in the past year.

Our Social Media team took to the pavements of London to find out what you had to say about burnout. 

“Our second annual health check of stress levels gives a worrying reading of the nation’s continuing risk of burnout. As the government grapples with how to tackle high rates of economic inactivity, our report provides insights around how employers can turn the tide and create mentally healthier workplaces to prevent people reaching burnout and dropping out of work.

“While there were some incremental signs of progress compared with last year, our findings pose important questions on whether employers are sufficiently adapting to the needs of a modern workforce, as well as the impact of external factors such as an overwhelmed NHS and money worries on our wellbeing.

“Our survey clearly reveals it is young people most at risk of high stress in the workplace, but raises doubts around whether they feel able to open up to their line manager and explore reasonable adjustments that could help prevent burnout. As the gap between generations widen, there’s a need to rebuild bridges and open up conversations on changing attitudes and expectations around work.

“We’re calling on employers to reconsider the approach to mental health and explore reasonable adjustments and workplace wellbeing initiatives in collaboration with their young employees. Otherwise, they risk losing out on the newest generation of workers as they either seek employment elsewhere or disengage. Unfortunately, many organisations still offer 20th century mental health support for a 21st century workforce. Companies understandably have their bottom lines to bear in mind, but improved mental health support will benefit all workers and boost productivity, and should be seen as a win-win.”

– Brian Dow, Chief Executive of Mental Health UK

Starting point for positive change

However, the survey does offer a starting point for conversations on improving mental health support, with 18-24-year-olds most likely to say they had benefitted from reasonable adjustments at work (54%), time off work (51%) and professional support for mental health (44%) to help alleviate stress and protect against burnout.

More broadly there were marginal signs of progress on tackling stress over the last year, with 32% of working adults saying their workplace had plans in place to help colleagues spot the signs of chronic stress and prevent burnout in the past year, compared with 29% in the Burnout Report 2024.

The proportion of adults who reported being able to manage their stress levels slightly increased (75% compared to 73% in the previous year), and on the whole people were also more likely to say they felt comfortable discussing stress levels with a line manager (60% compared with 57%).

Concerns of culture of silence around stress

Yet the report raises concerns that there could still be a culture of silence around stress, with the hidden issue of presenteeism potentially impacting productivity. One in five (21%) admitted their productivity or performance was impacted by high levels of pressure or stress but that they didn’t adjust their hours or take time off work, while nearly one in five (19%) chose not to disclose their high levels of pressure or stress.

The survey also reveals that only three in ten workers say they feel fulfilled at work (29%), almost one in four say they feel bored at work (23%), while 17% feel lonely at work. Just four in ten (42%) agreed they could switch off from work when they needed to – which dropped to 33% of those aged 18-24. Those aged 18-24 were also most likely to say they felt bored at work (33%), declining with age to 16% of those aged 55+.

In terms of what may have contributed to burnout outside of work, three in five said sleep was a stressor (61%), half cited money worries (49%), and around two in five listed poor physical health (42%) and feeling isolated (39%). Meanwhile, 50% of parents with children aged 4 years and under reported that challenges accessing childcare caused stress and may contribute to burnout.

The survey also highlights the impact of poor access to healthcare, with the surprising finding that the proportion of people who needed time off work in the past year due to deteriorating health while waiting for NHS treatment was three times higher in people aged 18-24 (28%) than those aged 55+ (9%).

When asked to imagine the likely impact of high levels of stress in someone’s life, two-thirds of people said it would affect sleep (64%), while nearly half highlighted diet (45%) or self-confidence (44%). Relationships would also be impacted, with 40% saying high levels of stress would affect relationships with friends and family, and 34% saying they would affect relationships with a partner.

"Burnout hit me hard during my first job out of university. As a young worker in corporate consulting, I quickly found myself in a fast-paced, demanding environment. I was constantly pulled in different directions, feeling spread thin as I juggled competing priorities. The expectation to learn on the job and work with multitudes of ambiguity only added to the pressure. Despite wanting to excel, I often felt unprepared and overwhelmed, leading to long hours and mounting stress.

“The impact on my mental health wasn’t something with a quick fix. Over two years, I was signed off work twice due to stress and burnout. The symptoms were impossible to ignore—exhaustion, difficulty concentrating, migraines, chronic pain, anxiety and suicidal ideation. These challenges seeped into my personal life, leaving me feeling isolated and like I was falling short in every area.

“It became clear that simply talking about mental health at work isn’t enough. Employers need to implement roles, structures, and processes that truly allow for positive mental health. In the world we live in, with the cost-of-living crisis, job insecurity, and geopolitical uncertainty, young people are under immense stress. Without real, systemic changes, workplaces risk pushing their youngest employees to breaking point."

– Tanya, 23 years old

"I currently work in the education sector, and though I enjoy coming into work most days and I’m proud of what I contribute, being neurodivergent brings challenges that aren’t always visible to others. In most of my jobs since leaving university, I’ve found workplaces geared up for neurotypical people, which can leave me feeling misunderstood. I’ve often struggled to open up to my manager, meaning we couldn’t address issues like burnout before they escalated. My current employer has been very supportive, but I believe companies should consider how different people have distinct needs and ways of working."

“Being neurodivergent brings many strengths, but my perfectionism can make it hard to finish tasks unless I feel they meet impossibly high standards. I get sucked into a spiral of overthinking and self-doubt, making me believe I’m underperforming or at risk of losing my job. Combined with a high workload, these feelings tipped me into burnout. At work my usual standards started to slip, and at home I retreated into video games and stress-eating, hardly interacting with my partner. Therapy has been instrumental in helping me recognise warning signs and build healthier habits. It’s been a gradual process, but one that’s taught me the importance of self-compassion.”

– Dan, 24 years old

For more information or to interview spokespeople or case studies, please contact Jamie Morrell, Media Manager at Mental Health UK:

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 0207 840 3128

*All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 4,418 adults, of which 2,436 were workers. Fieldwork for the Burnout Report 2025 was undertaken between 8th – 12th November 2024, with respondents asked about their experiences over the past year. Fieldwork for the previous Burnout Report 2024 was undertaken between 14th – 15th December 2023, with respondents asked to consider their experiences over the past year. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+).

**Last year, 35% of those aged 18-24 needed time off work due to poor mental health caused by stress, a slight increase from 34% the previous year. For those aged 25-34, the percentage rose from 23% to 29%, while among those aged 35-44, it increased from 20% to 25%. Conversely, there was a decrease among older age groups, with 14% of those aged 45-54 needing time off last year compared to 18% the previous year, and 10% of those aged 55+ needing time off, down from 15%.

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