More than 840,000 people die each year from health conditions linked to workplace stress and poor working environments, according to a new global report by the International Labour Organization (ILO).
The report, titled “The Psychosocial Working Environment: Global Developments and Pathways for Action,” identifies long working hours, job insecurity, and workplace harassment as key drivers of these deaths, which largely occur through cardiovascular diseases and mental health conditions.
The ILO estimates that these risks account for nearly 45 million years of healthy life lost annually worldwide. It added that the economic impact is substantial, costing the global economy approximately 1.37 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) each year due to reduced productivity and premature deaths.
According to the organisation, psychosocial risks stem from how work is designed, managed, and organised. It warned that high job demands, limited autonomy, bullying, and job uncertainty can create harmful working environments if left unaddressed.
The report noted that the psychosocial working environment encompasses job roles, organisational policies, and workplace relationships, all of which directly influence employees’ mental and physical health, as well as organisational performance.
It identified three principal drivers of workplace risk: the nature of the job, including workload and resource adequacy; the structure and management of work, such as supervision and pace; and workplace systems, including working hours, safety measures, and anti-harassment policies.
The ILO stressed that these risks are preventable if organisations focus on addressing root causes and strengthening occupational safety systems, while improving dialogue among governments, employers, and workers.
The report further explained that its findings were based on five key workplace risk factors—job strain, effort-reward imbalance, job insecurity, long working hours, and bullying—combined with global health data from the World Health Organization and other studies.
It found that these risks are associated with a wide range of health conditions, including depression, anxiety, heart disease, and sleep disorders.
The report also highlighted how evolving workplace trends, such as digitalisation, artificial intelligence, and remote work, are reshaping working environments. While these changes offer flexibility, the ILO warned they may also introduce new stressors if not properly managed.
Commenting on the findings, Ms. Manal Azzi, Team Lead on Occupational Safety and Health Policy and Systems at the ILO, said psychosocial risks are becoming one of the most pressing workplace safety challenges globally.
“Improving working conditions is critical not only for workers’ health, but also for productivity and economic growth,” she said.
The ILO concluded that early intervention is essential to building healthier workplaces, improving organisational performance, and strengthening economic resilience.
