Statistics on Employee Mental Health and Productivity

Employee wellbeing and mental health are now understood as core drivers of organisational performance, not peripheral concerns. Across Europe and the wider OECD, employee wellbeing statistics consistently show that stress, psychosocial risks, and unfair working conditions directly reduce productivity through absenteeism, presenteeism and long-term health impacts. Equally, organisations that support wellbeing, benefit from stronger engagement, lower turnover and better performance outcomes. These wellbeing and productivity statistics make it clear that human health and organisational output are closely interconnected.

The following sections group the most authoritative public statistics available and explain what each cluster means for workplaces today.

Work-related psychosocial risks employee wellbeing statistics (Eurofound & EU-OSHA)

Work-related stress is widespread in Europe. Eurofound’s work-related stress reports and the European Working Conditions Survey identify stress as one of the most commonly reported work-related health problems and document its consequences for health and lost working time. (Eurofound)

Psychosocial risk exposure is substantial. EU-OSHA employee wellbeing statistics show that many workers report psychosocial risks: they highlighted that 27% of workers experience stress, anxiety or depression caused or worsened by work; other analyses of Pulse data record very high shares reporting severe time pressure, with 46% of respondents. These psychosocial risks are linked to increased absenteeism, presenteeism and long-term cardiovascular risks. 

European surveys paint a picture of frequent and diverse psychosocial exposures that translate into health burdens and lost productive time. This signals clear human costs and exposes operational risks for employers, including retention, performance and sickness absence. Employee wellbeing statistics consistently reflect across EU data sources.

OECD findings – Mental distress, absenteeism and presenteeism

Employee wellbeing statistics about mental health show that absence is a direct link to mental distress. Across OECD analyses, workers with mental distress were on average 56% more likely to be absent from work than those without mental distress.

Presenteeism can exceed absenteeism in cost. OECD work highlights that productivity losses from presenteeism (reduced performance while at work due to health issues) can be two to three times higher than absenteeism costs for some non-communicable disease burdens.

The OECD shows a clear pathway: mental health problems raise absence risk and reduce on-the-job effectiveness. Organisations should therefore treat wellbeing programmes as productivity interventions, prevention and support reduce both absenteeism and costly presenteeism. These findings remain among the most cited wellbeing and productivity statistics for policy and organisational planning.

ILO / ILOSTAT – Measurement and comparability

ILOSTAT provides the authoritative international employee wellbeing statistics for injuries, sickness absence and other labour-market indicators that underpin cross-country comparisons and policy monitoring. This data enables consistent measurement of work-related health burdens.

Reliable policy and decisions rely on metrics. ILOSTAT’s frameworks and indicators are the standard reference for monitoring trends and assessing the scale of workplace health problems across countries.

Policy framing – employee wellbeing statistics (EU & ILO)

Fairness and “decent work” are explicitly linked to productivity. EU statements delivered to the ILO and related policy documents frame decent working conditions and fairness as drivers of long-term productivity, not only social objectives. These texts stress that productivity growth should be compatible with quality working conditions.

The policy narrative at the EU and ILO levels positions fairness as instrumental: safe and supportive workplaces as foundational to sustainable productivity gains. This aligns closely with findings from employee wellbeing statistics across multiple EU and OECD sources.

The statistics show an unmistakable truth

Across the EU, OECD and ILO data, the pattern is unmistakable: wellbeing and productivity move together. When workers face high levels of stress, unfair conditions or unmanaged psychosocial risks, the consequences appear quickly as reduced performance. Conversely, environments that prioritise fairness, psychological safety and supportive leadership consistently demonstrate stronger engagement and more stable productivity over time.

These statistics are more than numbers; they reflect the daily realities shaping how people show up, contribute and feel within their organisations. Building workplaces that protect mental health is not only ethical, it is also an essential condition for sustainable growth and trust. When viewed collectively, these employee wellbeing statistics form a clear case for action.

Octagon Professionals works with organisations to strengthen the human foundations of performance. From creating safe environments to developing leaders and teams who understand how wellbeing shapes engagement. If you are ready to align your workplace practices with the evidence, contact Octagon for clarity and confidence.