As Labour Day passes across Europe, a new study from the International Labour Organization (ILO) underscores a grim reality: the toll of job strain extends far beyond individual health, dragging down entire economies. The report estimates that more than 840,000 people die each year worldwide from conditions tied to psychosocial risks at work—long hours, job insecurity, and workplace harassment—and that the economic cost in Europe and Central Asia alone reaches 1.43% of GDP, the second-highest regional share globally.
Cardiovascular diseases account for most of these attributable deaths, but mental disorders—depression, burnout, anxiety—are the primary drivers of lost healthy life years, reflecting their chronic and disabling nature. In the European Union, the annual cost of work-related depression exceeds €100 billion, with employers bearing over 80% of that burden, according to the ILO data.
Stigma and Silence in the Workplace
Despite the scale of the problem, stigma remains a major barrier to prevention and support. A 2025 survey by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work found that more than six in ten workers in Greece, Cyprus, France, and Italy fear negative consequences if they discuss mental health with their manager. In contrast, around eight in ten workers in the Nordic countries feel comfortable doing so—a stark north-south divide that mirrors broader differences in workplace culture and social safety nets.
Across Europe, nearly one in three workers reports job-related stress, depression, or anxiety, with women reporting these problems more frequently than men. The ILO report highlights that companies are hit with lower staff retention, reduced work performance, and higher absenteeism as a result.
These findings align with a recent OECD analysis that estimated mental health crises cost European economies €76 billion annually, reinforcing the urgency of addressing psychosocial risks as both a health and economic priority.
Autonomy and Technology: A Mixed Picture
Other research sheds light on how much control Europeans feel they have over their working lives. A 2025 Eurofound study found that half of men in Europe report some control over their working hours, compared with 43% of women. Meanwhile, 17% of EU workers say they lack autonomy or influence over work pace and processes.
Technology is a double-edged sword. According to the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, 48% of workers say technology sets the work pace, while 19% say it reduces opportunities to use their knowledge and skills, and 16% say it limits decision-making. The share of workers reporting monotonous tasks has risen from 39% in 1995 to 48% in 2024, suggesting that digital tools may be eroding job quality even as they boost productivity.
The ILO study calls for stronger regulatory frameworks and workplace interventions to mitigate psychosocial risks. As Europe grapples with an aging workforce and persistent labour shortages, the economic argument for investing in mental health and job quality becomes ever more compelling. The cost of inaction—measured in lives lost and GDP forgone—is simply too high.
