ILO Warns Workplace Stress and Toxic Work Conditions Kill Over 840,000 People Annually

More than 840,000 people die each year due to work-related psychosocial risks, including stress, long working hours, job insecurity, and workplace harassment, according to a major new report by the International Labour Organization (ILO), highlighting a growing but often overlooked global health crisis.

The findings position workplace mental and social conditions as one of the most serious emerging threats to global public health, with impacts extending far beyond individual wellbeing to economic productivity and national growth.

"These risks are becoming one of the most significant challenges in the modern world of work," said Manal Azzi, Team Lead on Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Policy and Systems at the ILO.

A Silent Global Health Crisis

The report reveals that psychosocial risks—factors linked to how work is designed, managed, and experienced—are responsible for:

• Over 840,000 deaths annually

• Nearly 45 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost each year

• Economic losses equivalent to 1.37% of global GDP

These figures reflect the massive toll of workplace-related stressors on both mental and physical health, particularly their strong links to:

• Cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and stroke

• Mental health conditions including depression, anxiety, and suicide

Experts warn that the scale of the problem is likely underestimated, as many cases go unreported or are not directly attributed to workplace conditions.

What Are Psychosocial Risks?

The ILO defines the psychosocial working environment as the combination of job design, workplace relationships, and organizational systems that shape workers' daily experiences.

The report identifies three key levels where risks emerge:

1. Nature of the job — including workload, task design, and skill use

2. Work organization and management — such as job control, expectations, and support systems

3. Workplace policies and practices — including working hours, job security, performance systems, and protections against harassment

When poorly managed, these factors can create toxic environments that harm both employees and organizations.

Key Risk Factors Driving the Crisis

The report highlights five major psychosocial risks contributing to health outcomes:

• Long working hours

• Job insecurity

• High demands with low control (job strain)

• Effort–reward imbalance

• Workplace bullying and harassment

These risks often interact, compounding their effects and increasing the likelihood of serious health conditions.

Modern Work Is Making It Worse

While psychosocial risks have long existed, rapid changes in the global economy are intensifying them. The report points to:

• Digitalisation and AI-driven monitoring

• Rise of remote and gig work

• Increasing job precarity

• Blurred boundaries between work and personal life

These shifts can amplify stress and isolation if not properly managed, though they also offer opportunities for more flexible and healthier work models.

Economic Costs and Productivity Loss

Beyond the human toll, the report underscores the economic consequences of unhealthy work environments. Lost productivity, absenteeism, and healthcare costs linked to psychosocial risks are estimated to drain 1.37% of global GDP annually—equivalent to hundreds of billions of dollars.

"Improving the psychosocial working environment is not just a health issue—it's an economic imperative," the ILO noted.

Solutions: A Shift Toward Prevention

The report calls for a systemic, preventive approach to workplace health, urging governments and employers to address root causes rather than symptoms.

Recommended actions include:

• Integrating psychosocial risk management into occupational safety and health systems

• Strengthening labour protections and working conditions

• Promoting social dialogue between governments, employers, and workers

• Designing jobs that balance productivity with worker wellbeing

Experts stress that prevention is not only more effective but also more cost-efficient than treating the consequences of workplace stress.

A Call for Global Action

The ILO warns that failure to act could deepen the crisis as work continues to evolve. However, proactive reforms could create healthier, more productive workplaces and stronger economies.

"By addressing these risks, we can protect workers' health while boosting productivity and resilience," Azzi said.

As the nature of work undergoes rapid transformation, the report sends a clear message: the future of economic growth depends not just on jobs—but on the quality of those jobs.