Younger workers bear brunt of workplace stress, study finds

A study of 1,210 UK workers, conducted by Opinium on behalf of industry body GRiD, reveals that generation Z reports the highest levels of work-related stress and anxiety at 28 per cent, closely followed by millennials at 22 per cent. 

In contrast, these figures drop significantly for older demographics, with only 14 per cent of generation X and 7 per cent of baby boomers reporting work-related mental health pressures.

Gen Z (born 1997 - 2012) reported the highest levels of work-related stress according to the study by GRiD. Photograph: iStock

While younger demographics face the highest pressure from the workplace itself, data shows that no age group escapes stress entirely; rather, the root causes simply shift across cohorts.

• Financial Strain: Money worries affect nearly a quarter (25 per cent) of Gen X workers and 18 per cent of Baby Boomers.
• Caregiving Demands: Gen X and Millennial women carry a disproportionate share of caregiving responsibilities alongside their employment.
• Silent Struggles: Middle-aged men remain the least likely to speak up or seek help, despite a well-documented need for mental health support.

“Pressure is not limited to one age group, as different cohorts face distinct challenges,” noted Katharine Moxham, spokesperson for GRiD.

 “The evidence shows that employees across all generations experience stress, reinforcing the need for a broad and generation-agnostic approach to mental health support,” she continued.

Organisations should move away from demographic stereotypes and instead implement a comprehensive, multi-tiered support strategy when shaping preventative measures, says GriD.

“The evidence shows that employees across all generations experience stress, reinforcing the need for a broad and generation-agnostic approach to mental health support in employee benefits,” added Moxham.