Burnout Prevalence and Cost in 2025

According to many metrics, burnout is on the rise. ^{1 2} There is a bit of a generational divide, with Gen Z and Millennial professionals experiencing the highest levels. As may be expected, stress is also on the rise. All of this is despite working hours declining and a reported decrease in employee attachment to their employers. ³ So what’s going on?

Contents

• What is Burnout?
• The Prevalence of Burnout
• Burnout by Industry
• The Economic Impact
• Risk Factors
• Burnout Symptoms
• Burnout Severity Checklist
• What Can Be Done

What is Burnout?

The term burnout was coined by German-American psychologist Herbert Freudenberger in the 1970’s while looking at caregivers and professional healthcare workers. In his 1974 writings, he called burnout “a state of mental and physical exhaustion caused by one’s professional life.”⁴ There are many other definitions out there, but this is probably the most succinct and clear.

The ICD-11 includes three dimensions:

• Feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion
• Increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one’s job; and
• Reduced professional efficacy⁵

Burnout includes mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion related to one’s professional life. It is generally an effect of excessive and prolonged stress. What starts as overwhelm or tight deadlines may turn into burnout over time. It decreases productivity and energy levels, can lead to feelings of resentment, loneliness, or cynicism, and it may impact other areas of one’s life.

The Prevalence of Burnout

Burnout is quite common. Different organizations have conducted studies and surveys, and they generally find that burnout is on the rise in recent years.

The Annual Burnout Report⁶ from Mental Health UK surveyed over 4,400 adults in 2025 to look at the state of burnout in the UK. Their findings this year include:

• 34% of adults experienced high or extreme levels of pressure or stress “always” or “often”
• 91% experienced high pressure or stress at some point in the last year
• 21% of people needed time off work due to mental health issues
• There was an increase here in 18-44 year olds and a decrease in 45+ year old workers compared to the previous year

Glassdoor, the American employment review company analyzed their data⁷ as well. The share of reviews mentioning burnout increased 32% year-over-year as of the first quarter of 2025, which was the highest level since data began being collected in 2016. Reviews on Glassdoor that mention burnout average 2.68 stars, while reviews not mentioning burnout average much higher at 3.61.

In a 2022 piece⁸ from the American Psychological Association, data from their Work and Well-being Survey showed that nearly 3 in 5 employees reported negative impacts of work-related stress, including lack of interest and motivation, lack of effort at work, cognitive weariness, and emotional exhaustion. Almost half (44%) of respondents reported physical fatigue.

Surveys and studies show again and again that burnout rates are quite high, and may be on the rise. Employees are experiencing continual stress without appropriate resources or tools to deal with said stress, leading to burnout.

Burnout by Industry

Of course, burnout is not spread equally across all professions and industries. Before getting into different industries, it’s worth noting that research suggests that burnout increases when individuals are working over 45 hours a week.⁹ Younger workers and workers who were less engaged were found to be more likely to experience burnout as well. Women are also significantly more likely to experience burnout when compared to men. In fact, women in some studies were three times more likely to experience burnout than men.¹⁰

BBADegree.org analyzed Glassdoor reviews for over 500 of the largest companies in the United States. Looking at companies with at least 100 reviews, they analyzed the comments to look for burnout and burnout-related terms. They then ranked the companies based on a burnout score (the prevalence of burnout mentions in the reviews). The image below shows their findings (original source data and article found at https://www.bbadegree.org/articles/industries-where-workers-experience-burnout-most/).

In a 2023 survey,¹¹ Ringover, a communication platform, found that the industries with the highest burnout were agriculture (84.38%), finance and insurance (82.5%), telecom and information publishing (81.38%), and the public sector (80.49%). Industries such as professional and business services, education, leisure and hospitality, construction, and manufacturing all had burnout rates above 75%.

The Economic Impact of Burnout

The exact economic impact of burnout is hard to perfectly quantify. A 2025 study¹² by Martinez et. al. published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine used a computational model to look at burnout, work-life balance, and productivity losses such as missed workdays and reduced productivity. They found burnout to have an average yearly cost of: * $3,999 for nonmanagerial hourly employees * $4,257 for nonmanagerial salaried employees * $10,824 for managers * $20,683 for executives

By utilizing average wages, burnout rates, and employee position distribution at an average 1,000-person company, they estimate that employee disengagement and burnout cost $5.04 million annually. Whether it’s a small business or a large corporation, employee burnout is costing huge amounts.

Burnout Risk Factors

As mentioned, burnout can result from repeated stress or overwhelm at work. A 2024 meta-analysis by Amiri et. al.¹³ looked at 109 studies across the world. The key factors they found that influenced burnout included: * Workplace bullying * General job stress (tight deadlines, high-pressure situations, high responsibility) * Poor communication * Low job satisfaction

Many cite depersonalization as a factor as well. As MedPark Hospital¹⁴ puts it, depersonalization is “a sense of alienation from other people; having distant relationships with colleagues, supervisors, team members, or other people in the workplace or external people they have to interact with; feeling indifferent, lifeless, and having no bond to the person or organization at work.”

Other sources, such as WebMD¹⁵ and PsychologyToday¹⁶ list additional risk factors:

• Unmanageable workloads
• Confusing work responsibilities
• Too much work, not enough downtime
• Feeling unrecognized or unrewarded
• Emotional labor (work that involves emotional suppression or expression)
• Lack of autonomy (being micromanaged, for example)
• Perceived injustices
• Work hours that impact an individual’s work-life balance

Symptoms of Workplace Burnout

The symptoms of burnout may vary from individual to individual. Burnout may also come in stages. As it goes untreated or unaddressed, symptoms may worsen or more symptoms may develop. Symptoms of burnout include¹⁷: * Persistent exhaustion, regardless of rest * Feelings of detachment or numbness * Lack of motivation * Difficulty focusing or making more errors at work than usual * Feelings of irritability, anxiety, or overwhelm regularly * Headaches, digestive issues, and muscle tension * Alienation, or feeling detached from work and coworkers

Burnout Severity Checklist

If you are unsure if you are experiencing burnout, you can try one of the questionnaires below. First, we have the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI), developed by Dr. Evangelia Demerouti. You can find the inventory for free here. Low burnout is generally under 44, while moderate burnout is between 44 and 59. A score greater than 59 signifies high burnout.

The other tool for assessing burnout is the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). Similarly to the OLBI, you will answer each question to the best of your availability and receive a score at the end. You can find the free PDF below.

What Can Be Done?

With all of this information, we can see that burnout is a serious problem. But what can be done about it? Like any emotional or psychological difficulty, burnout takes care and attention. I will separate this into two sections: one for employers, and one for individuals experiencing burnout.

For Employers

First, as employers, there are quite a few things you can do to reduce burnout in your company. Remember that reducing burnout not only helps take care of your employees, it also boosts efficiency.

Set Expectations

Especially when it comes to after-hour work or overtime, be sure to set clear expectations with your employees. As a boss, it’s important to remember that after-hour emails or texts may be met with a feeling of urgency by employees. Let them know they are not required to answer outside of normal business hours or working hours.

Encourage Time Off

In many companies, employees don’t actually use their time off. In fact, about a quarter of Americans don’t take a single vacation day, even if they have them available.¹⁸ People cite workload, company culture, and a lack of PTO. Make sure to cultivate a culture where taking time off is not only accessible, but encouraged.

Monitor Workloads

Check in with employees and managers to see where there is overwhelm. If somebody is overburdened with their workload or has too tight of deadlines, burnout may be on the horizon. Employees with a more manageable workload are less likely to reach burnout.

Adjust Roles

If you do notice somebody struggling to meet deadlines or with too much work on their plate, reassign some tasks or shuffle roles around. Often, stress can be reduced by simply changing responsibilities in the office.

Encourage Communication

Communication starts from the top. Create an environment where employees can feel comfortable discussing struggles or asking for help. You might also consider encouraging teambuilding exercises to cultivate strong relationships between employees so that they may confide in one another.

Train Managers

If your managers have more direct contact with your employees than you do, give them appropriate training to understand and work with burnout. This should be an explicit part of managerial training, both in how to spot burnout and how to cultivate a workplace environment that supports employee wellbeing.

Recognize Accomplishments

Employers are often told to “recognize and value employees” or something along those lines. Instead of vaguely encouraging employees, make an effort to specifically recognize and reward accomplishments. This not only boosts the individual’s morale, but can boost the morale of the overall workforce.

Offer Mental Health Support

Set up a way to offer mental health support, not just for those with signs or symptoms of burnout. If you can, make sure your health plans offer strong mental health benefits. If you’re able to find a therapist or counselor in your area, have one ready to go for employees to see.

Implement Stress-Management Programs

There are many programs and initiatives that you can offer your employees as far as stress management. Some companies offer a weekly or biweekly mindfulness session. Others might offer yoga classes, stress management classes, time management classes, or specific burnout prevention seminars.

Provide Opportunities

Finally, provide opportunities for growth. Whether an employee is overloaded or not, employees who know they have a path upward may be less likely to experience burnout. Give people a chance to grow in their position, and provide the opportunity for progress.

For Employees

As an employee, you can do quite a few things to take care of yourself. Remember that nothing substitutes for professional mental health support. If you or somebody you know may be in danger of harming themselves or others, please reach out to an emergency line right away.

Be Honest with Yourself

The first step is always to be honest with yourself. Recognize where you’re at, and that you are struggling. You might also recognize that you need to make a change. In order to make a change, we first have to start by assessing where we are.

Talk to Your Boss/Coworkers

This may seem daunting, but many people who experience burnout find themselves keeping their experience to themselves at the workplace. Perhaps you can find a trusted manager or associate with whom you may talk about your experience. The intention here isn’t to vent or complain about the company necessarily, but to discuss both your difficulties and the possible solutions.

Set Realistic Goals

For some people, burnout can be partially influenced by personal qualities of perfectionism. You may want to please the company or your coworkers, even to the detriment of your own wellbeing. One way to work with this is to check in and set realistic expectations and goals for yourself. Can you change your work hours or availability? Maybe you can set goals for what you’d like to get done during the day, and make sure they’re attainable goals.

Seek Support

If you are able to, find a therapist or counselor to work with. There are therapists who work specifically with therapy for burnout. You also might discuss your burnout with trusted family members or friends. Again, steer clear of simply complaining. Talk about your emotional and psychological experience, and be open to suggestions about potential solutions.

Find a Relaxing Activity

As stress is a major cause of burnout, you might try engaging in some stress-reduction activities. Yoga has been found to be an effective form of stress reduction,¹⁹ as has mindfulness meditation.²⁰ Other things can reduce stress as well, such as reading books,²¹ spending time in nature,²² listening to music,²³ and getting a massage.²⁴

Take Physical Care

There is a ton of research to suggest a healthy and balanced diet reduces stress.²⁵ The research suggests diets that are high in fruits, nuts, vegetables, and fish. Due to individual bodies and guts, the right diet may be different for you than it is for me, but try to make sure you’re eating well. Similarly, exercise has been found to significantly decrease stress levels.²⁶ You don’t need to start running marathons; just go for an extra walk every day!

Journal

Journaling is a great way to really check in with yourself. Sometimes, we can process information differently by writing. You might try writing about your experience or difficulties, what triggers your burnout, or what you might be able to change to make an improvement. Get pen to paper and see what comes out. You might surprise yourself.

Practice Mindfulness

As already mentioned, mindfulness has a ton of benefits surrounding stress-reduction. Somatic exercises like walking meditation or progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) have been found to be effective forms of stress-reduction.²⁷ In addition, the mindfulness practice may help you to notice when you’re falling into burnout, and be more aware of the triggers and causes.

Set Boundaries

Finally, set boundaries. Set boundaries with your employer as far as your hours and availability, as well as your workload. And don’t forget to set personal boundaries with yourself. Often, burnout comes as the result of overworking that stems both from external and internal pressure. So be ready to set some boundaries both internally and externally so you can take care of your wellbeing. If you are struggling with burnout, please don’t hesitate to reach out for a free consultation. If we’re not the right fit together, I will help you find the support you’re looking for.

Sources

¹https://www.glassdoor.com/blog/burnout-rising-2025/
²https://press.roberthalf.com/2025-03-25-One-Third-of-U-S-Workers-Report-Rising-Burnout
³https://www.gallup.com/workplace/658235/why-americans-working-less.aspx
⁴https://spssi.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1540-4560.1974.tb00706.x
⁵https://www.who.int/news/item/28-05-2019-burn-out-an-occupational-phenomenon-international-classification-of-diseases
⁶https://mentalhealth-uk.org/blog/burnout-report-2025-reveals-generational-divide-in-levels-of-stress-and-work-absence/
⁷https://www.glassdoor.com/blog/burnout-rising-2025/
⁸https://www.apa.org/monitor/2022/01/special-burnout-stress
⁹https://www.gallup.com/workplace/658235/why-americans-working-less.aspx
¹⁰https://cepr.org/voxeu/columns/economics-burnout
¹¹https://www.ringover.com/blog/worst-industries-for-burnout
¹²https://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797(25)00023-6/abstract
¹³https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2013-00055-008
¹⁴https://www.medparkhospital.com/en-US/lifestyles/burnout-syndrome
¹⁵https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/burnout-symptoms-signs
¹⁶https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/lessons-from-a-burnt-out-psychologist/202309/a-burnout-risk-checklist
¹⁷https://mhanational.org/resources/burnout-signs-causes-recover/
¹⁸https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/22/nearly-a-quarter-of-american-workers-didnt-take-any-of-their-vacation-days-this-year-says-new-survey.html
¹⁹https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11064875/
²⁰https://oneminddharma.com/benefits-of-meditation/
²¹https://www.webmd.com/balance/health-benefits-of-reading-books
²²https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/spend-time-in-nature-to-reduce-stress-and-anxiety
²³https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3734071/
²⁴https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2892349/
²⁵https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7468813/
²⁶https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/exercise-and-stress/art-20044469
²⁷https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10844009/