A startling new report has uncovered that younger employees in Australia are forfeiting a staggering combined total of more than 26 million workdays every year in leave, primarily due to stress. The research highlights a growing generational divide in workplace wellbeing and its substantial impact on national productivity.
Young Workers Bear the Brunt of Workplace Stress
The study, conducted by Macquarie University and analysing data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics National Health Survey for 2020 and 2021, found that employees aged between 18 and 29 represent the highest proportion of stressed workers in the country. This is despite them constituting the smallest segment of the overall workforce.
Lead researcher Kristy Burns reported that these young Australians are frequently taking what she termed 'mental health mini-breaks', a trend causing significant concern among employers. The analysis of 5,515 working Australians revealed that the most highly stressed employees miss over 20 more days of work annually than their less-stressed colleagues.
Furthermore, the data shows workers aged 18 to 29 are 1.5 times more likely to experience psychological distress compared to those aged 50 to 64. The report also identified a gender disparity, with 21.9% of women reporting distress versus 14.8% of men.
Expert Blames Social Media and 'Bubble-Wrapped' Upbringing
Career consultant Tammie Ballis stated she was not 'surprised at all' by the findings that Generation Z takes the most time off due to stress. She attributed the issue to a combination of upbringing and modern influences.
'They think everything is stressful,' Ms Ballis commented. 'Schools aren't teaching them to work, they're teaching them to study and get high marks, but they aren't ready for the workforce.' She argued that many young workers struggle with professional feedback, often misinterpreting constructive criticism as bullying.
Ms Ballis pointed to the pervasive influence of social media and protective parenting. 'The parents have bubble-wrapped them, they've been raised on social media... they want to keep up with the Joneses, they want everything to come so easy.' She highlighted an extreme case of a worker who had fifteen different employers in just three years, suggesting a lack of self-awareness and resilience.
Productivity Loss and a Call for Targeted Support
The financial and operational consequences are severe. The report notes that 'psychological conditions' account for nearly 10% of serious injury claims and cost Australian workplaces an estimated $17 billion each year in lost productivity.
Geographically, Victoria recorded the highest rate of highly stressed workers at 22%, while Western Australia had the lowest at 14%. By sector, clerical and administrative workers took the most days off (25.9%), whereas the mining industry had the lowest absenteeism (8.5%).
The report concludes with urgent recommendations. Ms Burns emphasised that young workers face heightened exposure to psychosocial risks like workplace conflict, low job control, and precarious 'gig economy' employment. She called for workplace mental health programs to be specifically 'developed with and for female workers and younger workers' to address their unique needs, which could yield significant wellbeing and productivity gains.
