Burnout due to work stress is at an all-time high from spring 2021 to today, according to a new international survey by the Future Forum.

In a questionnaire sent to more than 10,200 workers in six different countries, including the US and the UK, 42% reported that they suffer from burnout, i.e. long-term exhaustion, accompanied by a decrease in interest and mainly related to work. This type of burnout is accompanied by negative emotions.

This percentage is a new record since the Future Forum began measuring burnout in May 2021. At that time, 38% of workers reported suffering from burnout.

According to the survey, two categories are more at risk of burnout than everyone else: women and workers under the age of 30.

Nearly half (48%) of young people aged 18 to 29 said they felt burnt out, compared to 40% of their peers aged 30 and over, with women (46%) reporting higher levels of burnout than men (37%).

What causes stress for Generation Z and millennials?

Generation Z and younger millennials, who entered the labor market during the pandemic and amid fears of inflation, fears of a recession and worsening geopolitical conflicts, are under the most pressure. In this climate, stress levels are extremely high for young people who feel like they have no control or stability in their careers.

“Younger Millennials and Generation Z grew up under a lot of pressure to achieve high performance, but xstart your career in a chaotic landscape with limited autonomy and the freedom to find meaningful, well-paying jobs”comments psychologist Debbie Sorensen, noting that companies’ ever-changing back office policies, increased layoffs, and hiring freezes are also key causes of burnout.