A new survey has uncovered that one in nine UK adults feel stressed every day, with the average person spending the equivalent of 123 days a year under stress.
Tiredness, financial concerns, and relationships with loved ones are among the top causes of anxiety, according to the study.
Commissioned by HR software provider Ciphr, the survey involved 2,000 UK adults and found that a significant 86 percent of people experience stress at least once a month. Notably, 11 percent report feeling stressed on a daily basis.
The impact of stress varies by gender, with women experiencing more frequent stress than men. On average, women feel stressed 11.7 days a month compared to 8.7 days for men. Furthermore, 14 percent of women say they feel stressed every day, compared to 9 percent of men.
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Certain groups are more susceptible to near-constant stress. The unemployed are particularly affected, with nearly one in four (23%) feeling daily stress. Those with caregiving responsibilities also face significant stress, averaging 12 days of stress per month, and 18 percent of caregivers report daily stress.
In contrast, retirees are the least stressed demographic. Nearly half of retired men over 65 (45%) and one in five retired women over 65 (20%) report not feeling stressed at all in a typical month.
The findings are part of Ciphr’s comprehensive study on Workplace Stress Statistics in the UK, which explores the prevalence and causes of stress both in and out of the workplace.
Leading Causes of Stress
The survey identified the top causes of stress for UK adults, with sleep deprivation and tiredness emerging as the most common trigger. Half of the women and about a third of the men surveyed cited lack of sleep as a major source of stress. Financial concerns are the second most common stressor, affecting nearly two in five people, followed closely by family and relationship issues.
Other significant stressors include health concerns, work-related stress, and the pressures of maintaining a busy schedule. Specific daily activities, such as cooking, meal planning, and managing digital communication, also contribute to stress for some individuals.
Stress in the Workplace
Work-related stress is a significant issue for many UK adults, with nearly a third (30%) reporting that their job increases their stress levels. Workload, long hours, and challenging workplace cultures are among the top work-related stressors. Additionally, the daily commute remains a source of stress for 15 percent of people, despite the shift towards remote and hybrid working arrangements post-pandemic.
Claire Williams, chief people and operations officer at Ciphr, expressed concern over the rising levels of stress among UK adults. She noted that the percentage of people experiencing daily stress has increased from 7 percent in 2021 to 11 percent in 2024. Williams emphasised the importance of employers recognising and addressing stress in the workplace to prevent it from becoming a more significant issue.
Ciphr’s Workplace Stress Statistics report, which includes these findings, is available for further review. The study was conducted by OnePoll in August 2024 and provides valuable insights for understanding and addressing stress in the UK.
Ciphr, based in Reading, is a leading HR software provider, offering integrated HR, payroll, learning, and recruitment solutions to medium and large organisations across the UK.
Amelia Brand is the Editor for HRreview, and host of the HR in Review podcast series. With a Master’s degree in Legal and Political Theory, her particular interests within HR include employment law, DE&I, and wellbeing within the workplace. Prior to working with HRreview, Amelia was Sub-Editor of a magazine, and Editor of the Environmental Justice Project at University College London, writing and overseeing articles into UCL’s weekly newsletter. Her previous academic work has focused on philosophy, politics and law, with a special focus on how artificial intelligence will feature in the future.
- Amelia Brand
- Amelia Brand
- Amelia Brand
- Amelia Brand
